04 Detailed Examples of Objectives

04 Detailed Examples of Objectives

Setting objectives is very important for the whole of the project team and is the means by which constructive engagement can be advanced. The following are illustrative of objectives commonly applied to transport projects:

Detailed examples of objectives from existing projects and schemes are illustrated in the following pages.

1. Innovate to mitigate adverse environmental effects

2. Protect species, habitats and ecosystems

3. Use of natural characteristics in design

4. Support biodiversity with native planting

5. Retain existing features and re-use site-won materials

6. Design for low maintenance and management

7. Secure adequate land to allow integrated solutions

8. Build on distinctive place quality and character

Each project should, through consultation, develop project-specific objectives and identify the mechanisms that help to deliver more sustainable landscapes

26 A830 near Arisaig. Road alignment integrated with landform and vegetation

27 A830 rock cut, profiled to natural grain and revegetated with peat turves

28 A7 Auchenrivock, sensitively aligned with locally characteristic drystone walls

1. Innovate to mitigate adverse environmental effects

Potential adverse environmental effects on people, the landscape, habitats and water are an inevitable consequence of existing and new transport corridors. The requirement to mitigate impacts provides a basis on which to innovate and seize opportunities, not just to mitigate but also to create features and habitats which serve environmental aims and objectives.

Design team collaboration

Designing major transport infrastructure and the maintenance and management of road and rail networks is complex and involves multi-disciplinary teams and high levels of design coordination. Design needs to balance a wide range of objectives. Successful integration of engineering, transport and environmental objectives requires good dialogue in which landscape architects, landscape managers and environmental specialists have key roles. Engagement with statutory consultees and local environmental groups/officers should be undertaken to inform design.

Design integration

Delivering project outcomes requires landscape architects to assist the design team in preparing integrated solutions. This is of particular importance in the engineering and landscape integration of sustainable drainage, earthworks and landforms; reconnection of new and existing landscape elements; and the reconciliation of transport and safety requirements such as geometry, sightlines, barriers and signage etc with landscape and environmental objectives. Early dialogue is always important to ensure all parts of the design team are aware of the design objectives and areas offering opportunity for innovation.

Addressing unforeseen opportunities

A key part of innovation includes addressing unforeseen events and turning new circumstances and constraints into opportunities. Unforeseen events create opportunity to enhance design detailing and identify innovative solutions by exploiting site conditions and local circumstances. This might be achieved through measures such as transplanting, re-use of materials and involving communities and landowners.

Integrate local characteristics

Local characteristics and features are primary assets that should be used to inform the design and development of the transport corridor. Appreciation of local elements, features and characteristics and their integration into the transport landscape should have a high priority in design. Local characteristics can include a variety of elements such as landforms, rock outcrops, water features, mature habitats and trees, distinctive boundaries or key views.

An understanding of landscape characteristics developed in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage and local stakeholders can ensure a sensitive response to the special qualities of place.

29 Drystone dyke. There are many rock types and vernacular styles across Scotland

30 Heather moorland vegetation, common beside Highland roads

31 Protect long established hedgerows

32 Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly on viper's bugloss flower

33 A1 Expressway rock cutting seeded with locally appropriate wildflower grassland species

2. Protect species, habitats and ecosystems

Transport projects can affect species and habitats, both directly and indirectly. Some animal and plant species, as well as certain habitats, are protected under European and national legislation to ensure they are not adversely affected by planned development, operational activities or maintenance requirements. Some areas are also designated as nature reserves and local areas of nature conservation or landscape interest. Early consideration should be given to such designations to allow route planning and mitigation which minimises adverse effects and potentially capitalises on these natural assets.

Avoid sensitive species and habitats

Early route planning of transport corridors should give consideration to alternatives that avoid adverse impacts on protected species and habitats, and this happens as part of the EIA process. The EIA will seek to address impacts through mitigation and set out requirements to avoid or minimise effects on sensitive receptors.

Protect ecosystems

Individual species and habitats form part of wider ecosystems. A well-functioning ecosystem can provide a range of natural benefits called ecosystem services. These include physical benefits such as flood and climate regulation as well as the quality of life benefits people gain from pleasant surroundings. Consider the natural system holistically to avoid unforeseen impacts on the wider environment.

Protect assets

Where route corridors interact with sensitive habitats and species, or include long-established features such as woodlands and hedgerows, provision should be made to protect these during construction or maintenance operations. At various stages opportunity should be taken to protect assets and this may include a range of measures from design team and contractor briefs to design amendments, physical protection and establishment of no-work zones.

Buffer habitats

Proximity to sensitive habitats provides opportunities for creating or maintaining buffering features along the route corridor. SUDS drainage systems commonly provide buffers between transport corridors and rivers, but groundwater barriers, physical screening or intervening intermediate habitats can also provide this function.

Provide for networks

Transport corridors are part of an extensive interconnected system of linear features. Typically these cross a variety of habitats and landscape features, some of which (for example, hedgerows, tree belts and rivers) are also linear and interconnected. Addressing habitat connections that reduce severance and allow for the movement of species can be an important consideration in nature conservation.

The transport corridors also cross and sometimes include other transport modes such as footpaths and cycleways. These links provide opportunities for connectivity between habitats, landscapes and differing transport modes leading to the creation of Green Networks.

34 Artificial mammal den

35 Transport corridors pass through extensive habitat networks

36 A90 Inchture. Low productivity/ high diversity grassland on subsoil

37 Willow planted as a multi-stem

38 A1 Howburn to Houndwood: natural processes in the Eye Water realignment

3. Use of natural characteristics in design

Natural characteristics are the physical manifestations resulting from natural processes and the inter-relationship of natural elements. Wherever possible, design and management of landscapes should work with these characteristics and processes to reduce resource consumption and long-term maintenance requirements, as well as encourage biodiversity. Successfully achieving this objective, in a manner that supports landscape integration, requires a thorough understanding of context, materials and processes.

Promote variation

The variety inherent in natural characteristics develops from differences in the environment. Where possible and appropriate, uniform and geometric finishes of earthworks and other landforms should be avoided and designers should be encouraged instead to create designs that support natural processes and patterns by reflecting local characteristics. Minor changes in slope, aspect, substrate and drainage encourage variation in the development of habitats and the establishment of species. This in turn increases biodiversity and can provide the basis for successfully responding to future environmental change.

Allow natural processes to work

The development of features and habitats should be encouraged through the action of natural processes including drainage and water flow, habitat succession, and breakdown of materials. The controlled harnessing of natural processes reduces initial inputs and long-term maintenance requirements but successful implementation requires a thorough understanding of the processes and materials involved and may take time to evolve.

Earthworks contouring

Shaping earthworks to reflect locally characteristic landforms can achieve desirable outcomes including: stability of subsoils and topsoils at their natural angle of repose; landscape integration with the surroundings; and the creation of varied slope gradients and aspects which encourages diversity. It can also allow minimisation of the transport corridor by return of land to productive use or natural habitat development, with resulting reductions in maintenance and long-term management.

Rock cut treatments

Natural bedding planes and fracturing of rock can be exploited to create naturalistic rock features reflecting the characteristics of local outcrops. The surface irregularities of cracks, ledges and scree promote variation and provide habitat opportunities for plants, birds and other animals such as reptiles. Whilst transport networks must be inherently safe for users, care should also be taken at the design stage to ensure a measured and proportionate

response to the perceived hazards of adjacent rock cuttings and outcrops. This includes designing to avoid visually intrusive engineering stabilisation and protection measures such as rock blankets, netting and safety barriers.

Natural drainage solutions

Drainage of transport corridors is a key opportunity for innovation in the harnessing of natural processes to minimise artificial interventions, leading to creation of new habitats and valuable integrated landscape features whilst reducing long-term maintenance requirements. Introduction of man-made elements such as extensive safety fencing and engineered retaining structures should be avoided wherever possible. Drainage proposals should address best practice, adopting water sensitive design in accordance with SUDS guidance.

39 Naturalistic rock cutting and native vegetation on the A1 Expressway

40 Well integrated sustainable drainage offering nature conservation and green network benefits on the A1

41 Lowland meadow, Keltneyburn SSSI

42 Rowan berries: a native seed source

43 A90 Inchture Interchange: transition across wetland and woodland habitats

4. Support biodiversity with native planting

Native plant species are those that have been the longest established in the British Isles, forming associations of species that have developed in geographical regions and in specific habitats, responding to local soil, water and microclimatic conditions. As such, native plants, particularly those of local provenance, are most likely to successfully establish and develop in balanced plant assemblages and create naturalistic habitats in which other native plant and animal species are encouraged. Some species such as Scots pine, birch and rowan are highly characteristic of Scottish habitats and landscapes, forming the key species in widely distributed plant assemblages.

Designers will need to be aware of the potential effects of climate change on the geographical range of some native species as well as the likely impacts on local soils and microclimatic conditions.

Native plants and seeds

Native plants and seeds appropriate to the geographical location and local conditions should be used for all projects. If particular local characteristics or factors warrant the potential use of non-native species it must first be established that the location concerned is not

considered 'in the wild' under the terms of the Code of Practice on Non-native Species (Scottish Government 2012) or that the proposals are acceptable to Scottish Natural Heritage under licence.

44 Native pinewood, Deeside. Scots pine has very specific local geneotypes

45 Well integrated landform and native wildflower grassland on the A1 at Pencriag

Local provenance

Most UK native species have a wide geographical range and can be affected by significant variations in localised climate and soil conditions. Over thousands of years this has led to adaptations within populations of species. Scotland and the rest of the UK are divided into a series of geographically defined plant provenance zones each with similar climate and soil factors. It is therefore important that all native plants used on projects should, wherever possible, be sourced from stock originating in the project's local provenance zone. Such plants are most likely to be adapted to local conditions and have the best chance of successful establishment.

Species mixes

In natural and semi-natural habitats, where human intervention has been minimal or low, plant species are found in common associations that respond to local conditions. These associations are found repeatedly across areas in which similar conditions prevail and have been recorded in the National Vegetation Classification system. Native planting and seeding mixes should be based on these assemblages, or on simple combinations that allow such associations to develop in combination with natural regeneration.

Collect and grow seeds and cuttings

A ready supply of the appropriate local provenance material can be ensured by collecting and growing-on seeds and cuttings from native plants growing in or near the project location. Successful implementation of this procedure requires forward planning 2-3 years ahead of the project, and the availability of a local plant nursery where the plants can be grown-on.

Bespoke solutions

Transport corridors, by virtue of their design and implementation requirements may impact on landscape character, historical and cultural environments and ecological assets. Design proposals should seek innovative responses to specific impacts, local anomalies and points of interest. This may include addressing cultural or historical artefacts, reinforcing localised elements of landscape character and taking into consideration site-specific soil and drainage conditions. Detailed design development should take account of such factors and create a bespoke solution that maximises opportunities for successful project integration.

46 A former main road becomes a cycleway

47 Aquatic plants are easily translocated

48 The A830 passes through an intricate landscape where the retention of existing features and re-use of soils is important to successful landscape integration

5. Retain existing features and re-use site-won materials

Successful integration of transport corridors with their surrounding landscape and habitats requires local characteristics to be taken into account. Early and ongoing consideration should be given to the potential for retaining and integrating with local landscape features and elements and for re-using local materials generated by site clearance and earthworks excavation.

Local context and route selection

Knowledge of the project context and setting will identify key local features and characteristics. This can inform an alignment review in which the potential for retaining features such as landforms, mature trees and distinctive boundaries is maximised.

Protect during construction

The footprint required to build a project should be at a size appropriate to allow successful integration with its surroundings. The objective of integration may also require that valued existing features are retained and protected. Where protection of features is required this may include physical barriers, control of drainage and briefing of site personnel.

Balanced earthworks

Balancing of cut and fill can not only minimise the footprint of a transport corridor and the need for disposing, importing and transporting of materials, but can also, with careful design, improve landscape integration. Creative use of site-won materials can include lime mixing to stabilise unsuitable clay soils for structural earthworks, landscape integration by grading out embankments or environmental mitigation through the creation of screen bunds and false cuttings.

Soil conservation

Care should be taken to strip, store and re-spread site-won soils as these provide the basis for establishing naturalistic assemblages of plants. Stripped soils can contain desirable seed and plant fragments which allow successful re-establishment of natural and semi-natural local vegetation.

Translocation of plants and habitats

Some plants and habitats (eg. small saplings, and turves from grassland or moorland habitats) are capable of successful translocation to alternative locations in which they will re-establish. Detailed site survey will identify such opportunities. The process requires careful forward planning and handling: lifting and transferring is best carried out as a single handling operation but suitable temporary storage may be required between these stages depending on the implementation programme.

Chipping and composting

Woody vegetation and brash cleared from a route construction corridor, or as part of vegetation management on an existing scheme, can be chipped, composted and re-used as mulch or a soil improver. Site mulching has useful but limited applications and, where larger volumes of chipped or mulched material are available, contracts should consider alternative uses and applications e.g. wood fuel/biomass. It may also be appropriate in some locations and in carefully controlled amounts to leave unchipped brashings and arisings on site as habitat piles etc.

49 Lairig Eilde Bridge, Glencoe: removing turves for re-use on completed scheme

50 A1 Howburn to Houndwood: woody vegetation was chipped and composted before being re-spread as mulch

51 Wildflower grassland on the A1 at Houndwood

52 Tree shelters splitting to accommodate growth

53 Use of tree shelters and planting in subsoil reduces the need for chemical weed control

6. Design for low maintenance and management

Most planting and seeding in transport corridors requires some maintenance and management. This may involve early inputs to promote successful establishment or later inputs to control effects on operational and safety aspects. This requires the commitment of materials, labour and energy. The need for intensive or frequent management is a sign that habitats are not in equilibrium. This may be acceptable for certain design contexts but is unlikely to be appropriate in general. Project planning and landscape design should ensure that the potential for intensive, frequent or long-term management inputs is minimised. Consultation with maintenance managers will be important.

Right plant for right place

Plants are often used which fail to establish due to local soil and microclimatic conditions. Detailed knowledge of these factors, together with a working knowledge of native plants and plant associations is required to ensure that appropriate plants and plant mixes are chosen.

Modification of specifications, plant mixes, or their intended location may be required if inspection of works during construction or during establishment indicates localised factors which may affect plant establishment. Choice of plant and location should, where possible, anticipate the potential effects of future climate change.

Appropriate planting densities and spacings

Various planting and management strategies can be employed to ensure successful establishment of planting. Too low a density will leave significant areas in which control of weeds is required for a long time before shading out occurs. Too high a density is intensive in time and materials to plant and may leave a long-term requirement for thinning. A balanced strategy should be developed appropriate to the location and future requirements. Within the constraints of density, plant spacings and groupings of species should be varied to more closely reflect natural patterns of plant distribution.

Low productivity grasslands

Almost all transport corridors include extensive areas of grassland. This often requires significant and ongoing maintenance inputs in the form of mowing. In areas that do not require maintaining for safety and sightline purposes, grass growth should be controlled by using low fertility soils/minimal soil depth and seeding with low productivity native grass and/or wildflower mixes. These will often also serve biodiversity and landscape objectives.

Minimise chemical applications

Maintenance and management strategies should be employed which reduce the need for intensive long- term chemical applications. This may include planting and seeding without fertilisers. It also includes using passive weed control measures where appropriate such as shelters, mulches or low productivity grass.

54 Vipers bugloss and rock cutting

55 A830 near Fort William: wildflower grassland verge

56 A1 Tower to Penmanshiel: horizontal road aligment and re-vegetated rock cutting integrates with the character of the adjacent landformn

57 Allow integration between transport corridors and active travel routes

58 A1 Howburn to Houndwood: SUDs pond on Eye Water floodplain

7. Secure adequate land to allow integrated solutions

Successful integration of transport routes with their surroundings is a desirable environmental objective and contributes to mitigation of effects. This may require additional land beyond the immediate corridor needed to accommodate construction of the route. This not only addresses landform integration but also allows for natural drainage solutions and future adaptation to changing circumstances, including climate change.

Landform integration

Successful integration with the surrounding landscape may require permanent or temporary land acquisition beyond the immediate construction corridor. This may include allowance for grading out embankments and cuttings to smoothly flow into surrounding landforms, or to later return land to agriculture and minimise the final footprint of the scheme.

SUDS attenuation and treatment

Sustainable drainage should be used to attenuate and treat water runoff, create semi-natural habitats and enhance landscape character. To successfully accomplish this requires adequate space to create naturalistic water bodies with extensive shallows, varied depths and shorelines and gradual transitions between habitats and landscape types. Adequate provision of land and SUDS may also allow future changes in rainfall and runoff to be accommodated.

Green networks

Landscape and natural heritage objectives can be served by connecting the transport corridor landscape with existing habitats, access opportunities and landscape features. It may be appropriate in terms of mitigation objectives to secure additional land to achieve a better integration with nearby green networks including woodlands, hedgerows and river corridors. This approach must also be balanced with the need to protect any wildlife using green networks by employing measures such as fencing, underpasses and green bridges where these offer robust mitigation solutions and can be justified in terms of their integration with the landscape and impact on budgets.

Conserve and create views

Key views can be affected by transport corridors. Equally, construction of a route can lead to new experiences of landscapes previously unavailable. Design and maintenance of transport corridors should allow for retention of existing views and adequate framing of newly realised views, either en route or as part of the provision of rest areas and lay-bys.

Active travel routes

The earliest opportunity should be taken to plan for integration and enhancement of alternative travel corridors, including pedestrian and cycling, within main transport corridors. New or upgraded corridors should aim to avoid adversely affecting existing routes.

Address boundaries

Distinctive boundaries such as hedges and drystane walls create a sense of place as well as contributing to habitat diversity and green networks. Adequate provision should be made to conserve or connect with existing boundaries, as well as to construct new boundaries that sit naturally in the landscape.

59 Lairig Eilde Bridge, Glencoe: Curved deck fits the narrow, dramatic landscape

60 A96 Fochabers Bypass: landform graded out for return to agriculture

61 The A9 separates Craigellachie National Nature Reserve and Aviemore

62 A1 Expressway: Biel House gateway relocation - a bespoke solution

63 Rhynie village and Hill of Noth viewed from the A97

8. Build on distinctive place quality and character

Landscapes by their combinations and patterns of elements and features create areas of distinctive character. Sense of place arises from the character and special qualities of location and the connections people make with it. A positive sense of place and strengthening of distinctive place qualities is fundamental to how we perceive our environment. Transport corridors can provide access to and experience of landscapes as well as affect them positively or adversely. Policy and project objectives should support the conservation and creation of distinctive place, character and experience of landscape.

Respect setting

A critical element in the design process and setting of design objectives is an understanding of landscape context. Context requires an informed understanding of place, an appreciation of landscape character and respect for setting.

Creating a sense of place through a journey

Transport routes can provide opportunities for creating a sense of place and memorable experiences by virtue of their course through the landscape, the provison of access and the need to provide locations for resting. A high quality of design along the corridor is essential to enhancing and exploiting these opportunities and their contribution to the experience of the journey.

Continuity of elements

Linear transport corridors create severance and introduce new forms into the landscape. Engineering works sever existing patterns and can fragment elements such as woodlands, shelter belts, field patterns, walls and habitats. An important project objective is reconnecting features, re-establishing patterns and ensuring continuity of elements through good design.

Use local materials

Local materials help create distinctive place qualities. Conserving local materials and re-using materials and design references supports design integration and protects local character. Drystane wall boundaries and rock faces can be particularly distinctive.

Conserve key features

Local distinctiveness is often contingent on or enhanced by distinctive features such as the historic environment, particular buildings, tree planting or landforms. These can be unique to a particular location or characteristic of a particular region or area. Design priorities should aim to protect or integrate with these features.

Conserve and create key views

Transport corridors can direct or screen views, create vistas and inform how we read and perceive the landscape. Understanding the value of views and designing to create and retain views and vistas is important in place-setting and the experience of travel.

Quality in detailing

Quality of design is important at all scales and can be significant in terms of detailing. The appropriate use of materials, application of vernacular design details that respect context ,and simple uncluttered solutions, can all play a part in supporting design quality and place-making.

64 A87: spectacular views to the South Cluanie ridge

65 Glen Docherty: roadside barrier made from local stone

Typical examples of landscape objectives

a. Shelter belt

• Use of native species
• Integrate with local character
• Appropriate planting densities

b. Mammal pass

• Protection of species
• Reducing fragmentation

c. Sustainable drainage

• Attenuation and treatment
• Native species and green networks
• Adaptation to climate change

d. Lay-bys as places

• Conserve and create views
• Link to active travel routes
• Address boundaries
• Local characteristics

e. Rock cut slope

• Integrated with local characteristics
• Natural rock bedding
• Spread site-won soils
• Native species planting

f. Bridge

• Sense of place
• Innovation in design
• Reduced habitat fragmentation

g. Noise barrier

• Engage with stakeholders
• Bespoke solution
• Innovation in design

66 A96 Trunk Road near Huntley, Aberdeenshire