Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme extents cover a largely rural stretch of the M90 carriageway, within Perth and Kinross. Baseline air quality is likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the M90, with secondary sources from agricultural activities.

Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 along the M90, approximately 2.5km south of the scheme extents (site number: 20813) was counted at 26,903 total vehicles, with 2,538 (9.4%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Perth & Kinross Council have currently declared one Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), Perth City, for exceedances in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulates (PM10). This AQMA is located over 8km from the scheme extents. There are no real-time air quality monitoring stations (Air Quality in Scotland) or any sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents.

There are two air quality-sensitive receptors located within 200m, both are residential receptors located 180m west and 195m east from the scheme extents. No community facilities are located within 200m of the scheme extents.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study using Historic Scotland Designations and PastMap has been undertaken, where an asset has been listed more than once, its highest statutory designation has been recorded. This refers to designations including World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Battlefields and Listed Buildings.

No statutory cultural heritage features are located within the scheme footprint; however, one is located within 300m of the scheme:

  • A Category B Listed Building, Ruins Of Old House Of Fordel And Outbuildings, Easter Fordel (LB569) located approximately 165m west at NO 14242 12535, comprising the remains of a late 16th to early 17th century tower house and associated outbuildings.

Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) provide local and national level information on Scotland’s historic environment. There are four records listed on the HER and NRHE located within 200m, however, none are located within the scheme extents.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme lies within a predominantly rural setting, characterised by woodland and grazing and arable agricultural land.

There are no statutory or non-statutory landscape designations such as Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) sites or Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within 200m of the scheme extents, or visible from the scheme.

The scheme falls within the Lowland Hill Ranges Landscape Character Type (LCT 382), defined by open, upland landscapes with volcanic ridges and glens, grass moorland and upland pasture, with sparse settlement and visible cultural heritage features like hill forts and historic field boundaries. 

Visual

There are no constant visual receptors of the scheme such as residential receptors. Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the M90, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

There are no local, national or European designated biodiversity sites located within 2km, however, there is potential for hydrological connectivity to the following European designated sites, over a course of approximately 14km through the River Farg, Fildie Burn and River Earn (Sitelink):

  • River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (EU Site Code UK0030312);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC (EU Site Code UK0030311);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) (EU Site Code UK9004121);
  • Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Ramsar (EU Site Code UK13018).

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken, concluding no likely significant effects on the designated sites as:

  • The habitat area of the designated sites will not be reduced as a result of the scheme.
  • There will be no long-term disturbance to key species as a result of the scheme.
  • No habitat or species fragmentation will occur as a result of the scheme.
  • There will be no reduction in species density as a result of the scheme.
  • There will be no change in the key indicators of conservation value.
  • The scheme works will not reduce the ability of the designated sites to cope with climate change.

Field survey

An ecological field survey has been scoped out by a qualified ecologist due to the transient nature of the works and their containment within the trunk road boundary, indicating a low likelihood of significant ecological impact.

Invasive plants

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has not recorded any records of invasive non-native species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents. Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and common ragwort (Jacobea vulgaris), injurious weeds and Transport Scotland target species are recorded along the southbound verge, adjacent to the scheme extents. NBN Atlas has not recorded INNS or injurious weeds within 500m of the scheme extents.

Geology and soils

Geology

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), or geological SSSIs located within 300m (Sitelink).

Bedrock geology comprises (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer) igneous basaltic-andesite from the Ochil Volcanic Formation during the Devonian period (approximately 419.2 to 393.3 Mya).

Superficial deposits consist of sedimentary deposits of Devensian till (Diamicton) formed during the Quaternary period (approximately 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago).

Soils

The local soil type within scheme extents is recorded as brown earths (Scotland’s Soils).

All works are contained to the engineered layers of the existing carriageway, resulting in limited potential for disturbance to geology and soils. As such, geology and soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment in line with DMRB Guidance document LA 109: Geology and Soils.

Material assets and waste

Materials

Resurfacing will use Transport Scotland’s TS2010 hot-mix asphalt (HMA) specification with AC binder and base layers. Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) is not proposed as TS2010 performance requirements are based on hot-mix production, ensuring suitable construction performance within Scotland’s cold and wet climate. While WMA provides energy and emissions benefits, HMA provides long-term durability, extending the design life of the carriageway and reducing the frequency of future resurfacing interventions. Refer to the Climate impacts and mitigation section for further details.

Other materials required will include road marking materials, road studs, vehicle fuel and oil.

Materials will be obtained from recycled, secondary, or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. For example, the binder and base courses used for resurfacing will contain a percentage of recycled material.

Wastes

Wastes are anticipated to be carriageway planings which will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices.

Coring investigations have not identified the presence of coal tar within treatment depths within the scheme extents.

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be prepared prior to the works which will detail how resource use and waste arising from the works will be managed throughout the scheme. This is required due to the scheme exceeding £350,000 in value and will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced, resulting in less landfilled waste. 

Noise and vibration

The scheme is located in a predominantly rural area, where baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the M90, with secondary sources from agricultural activity. For AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

Modelled day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels along the scheme range between >75 to 80dB, and night noise levels (Lnight) for the period 23:00-07:00 range from >65B to 75dB. At the closest receptor, located 180m west, baseline noise levels are recorded below 55dB (Scotland’s Noise Map).

There are five noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) located within 300m, all of which are residential properties and agricultural holdings.

The works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan (Road Maps) (TNAP).

Population and human health

There are five residential and agricultural receptors located within 300m, the closest is located 180m west from the scheme extents at NO 14223 12874. No community facilities (recreational, educational, religious or medical) are located within 300m.

The works will be fully contained within the carriageway boundary, requiring no land take from residential, agricultural, business, or community land, and furthermore will not impact access or egress to any such land.

There are no Core Paths within or visible from the scheme extents, and no provision for walkers, cyclists, or horse-riders (WCH) due to the motorway setting.

No laybys, lighting points or bus stops are located along the scheme extents.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

Road drainage along the scheme extents comprises filter drains and gullies.

The River Farg (ID: 6701), a statutory surface watercourse designated under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA) Water Classification Hub) is located approximately 65m southeast of the scheme extents. It exhibits a moderate overall status under SEPA’s 2023 water classification data.

Fildie Burn, a non-statutory watercourse flows beneath the carriageway through a small culvert within the scheme extents at NO 14338 13355.

Groundwater

The scheme lies within the Glenfarg groundwater body (ID: 150527) which was classified as having a good overall condition under the WFD in 2023 (SEPA Water Classification Hub).

The scheme is not located within a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Flood risk

The scheme is not located within areas identified at risk of fluvial or pluvial flooding (SEPA’s Flood Map), or within a 2028-2034 potentially vulnerable area (PVA) (Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) 2028-2034).

Climate

Carbon Goals 

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.

The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:

  • 2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 57% lower than baseline.
  • 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% lower than baseline.
  • 2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline
  • 2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline.

These budgets are legally binding and will be supported by a new Climate Change Plan, which will outline the specific policies and actions required to meet the targets.

Transport Scotland remains committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045. 

Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040. 

Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the North East Network Management Contract (NE NMC) network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the NE NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.