Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme is located in an urban area along the A75 and A76 at Glasgow Road roundabout, Dumfries, in Dumfries and Galloway. The carriageway is bordered by dense vegetation and mature deciduous trees. The scheme extents run under Cuckoo Bridge at NGR NX 96345 77191 and NX 96328 77250. The wider area is surrounded by residential properties, buildings and recreational open spaces.
There are over 100 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Other sensitive air quality receptors include Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area, Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest and St Teresea’s Primary School 63m west.
Dumfries and Galloway Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).
There are no areas identified on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the works area. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents.
Baseline air quality is likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A75 and A75. Manual count point 80290, located approximately 100m east along the A75, shows that in 2024, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 25,504 with 2,129 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Cultural heritage
A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmap to identify cultural heritage assets within the vicinity of the scheme. A study area of 300m has been used for designated cultural heritage assets, and an area of 200m area for non-designated cultural heritage assets.
The assessment found no designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents. However, non-designated cultural heritage assets within 200m are detailed in Table 1.
| Name | Reference number | Description | Distance from scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dumfries, Margaret Walk, Lincluden Parish Church | 352631 | Canmore - Church (20th Century) - (21st Century), Parish Church (Period Unassigned) | Approx. 100m northeast of the scheme extents. |
As works contained within the carriageway boundary and verges, there will be no impact on any identified cultural heritage assets. Therefore, this aspect has been scoped out for further assessment.
Landscape and visual effects
The carriageway is bordered by dense vegetation and mature deciduous trees. The scheme extents run under Cuckoo Bridge at NGR NX 96345 77191 and NX 96328 77250. The wider area is surrounded by residential properties, buildings and recreational open spaces, some of which can be seen due to sparse vegetation.
According to Scotland’s Environment Web, there are no Gardens and Designed Landscapes, Ancient Woodlands, National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within 500m of the scheme extents.
A search on Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map has recorded that the LCT within the scheme extents can be classed as ‘162 - Lower Dale - Dumfries & Galloway’ characterised by the following features:
- Wide, flat or gently undulating section of the major valleys.
- Improved pastures and arable fields of medium to large size.
- Hedgerow field boundaries (beech and hawthorn) with occasional walls.
- Broadleaf shelterbelts.
- Open character, medium to long views determined by tree lines and shelterbelts.
- Wide meandering river channels.
- Network of communication lines: minor and major roads and railway lines.
- Many settlements including main towns at river bridging points, isolated developments and suburban expansion.
Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map, notes that the land surrounding all site locations has previously been used as ‘Urban Areas’.
Due to the lack of vegetation and natural topographic screening in some areas within the scheme extents, multiple residential properties will experience views of the works, particularly those along Glasgow Road. No community facilities will have views of the construction activities.
Biodiversity
A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has not identified any European designated sites, with connectivity to or within 2km of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific interest (SSSI), within 200m of the scheme extents.
No trees under a TPO are within 500m of the site.
Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has highlighted that common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) can be found along the verge of the A75 within the scheme extents.
Due to the intrusive nature of the works and vegetation removal, a field survey was carried out on the 30th May 2025. This survey highlighted the following key constraints:
- The woodland and dense scrub recorded within and surrounding the proposed works area offers suitable foraging, commuting and nesting habitat for a variety of bird species.
- The invasive non-native species (INNS) cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa) were present at various locations within the proposed works area.
Geology and soils
NatureScot’s Sitelink tool has not recorded any Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity or lie within 200m of any of the scheme extents.
There is no soil data available within the scheme extents according to Scotland’s Soils Map, this is likely due to the scheme location’s urbanised, built-up nature. The national land capability for agriculture within the scheme extents can be categorised a ‘888’ urban.
According to Britain’s Geology Viewer, the geology along the A75 and A76, within the scheme extents, consists of the following:
Bedrock Geology
- Doweel Breccia Formation - Conglomerate and sandstone, interbedded. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 298.9 and 272.3 million years ago during the Permian period.
Superficial Deposits
- Kilblane Sand and Gravel Formation - Sand, gravel and boulders. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
Material assets and waste
The proposed scheme requires a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is over £350,000.
Tables 2 and 3 below outline the materials required for the scheme and waste expected to be produced during the works.
|
Activity |
Materials Required |
Sources |
|---|---|---|
|
Construction |
· Concrete · Asphalt · Type 1 unbound subbase material · General / selected granular fill · Steel traffic signposts · Steel or aluminium traffic sign plates with plastic coating · Thermoplastic road marking material · Ductile iron grates, covers and frames · Plastic pipes for drainage and ducting · Plastic gully pots and inspection chambers · Pedestrian guardrail · Traffic signal heads |
· 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, sign posts will contain an element of recycled metal material. |
Noise and vibration
There are over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Other sensitive noise and vibration receptors include the following:
- Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area.
- Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest.
- St Teresea’s Primary School located approximately 63m west.
- Lincluden primary school approximately 300m north.
- Lincluden after school group approximately 300m northeast.
- The Bridge Dumfries Education Centre is located 201m south of the scheme extents.
Baseline noise and vibration levels are primarily influenced by traffic along the A75 and A76. Manual count point 80290, located approximately 100m east along the A75, show that in 2024, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 25,504 with 2,129 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Scotland’s Noise Map has recorded that the noise level (Lday), during daytime hours, within the scheme extents ranges from approximately 68dB to 75dB. During nighttime hours, the noise level (Lngt), has been recorded to range between 63dB to 71dB.
The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023).
Population and human health
Due to the nature of the works, an area of 300m has been investigated to determine the population and human health baseline.
The land surrounding the scheme extents is primarily used as residential and community facilities.
There are over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Other community facility receptors include the following:
- Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area.
- Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest.
- St Teresea’s Primary School located approximately 63m west.
- Lincluden primary school approximately 300m north.
- Lincluden after school group approximately 300m northeast.
- The Bridge Dumfries Education Centre is located 201m south of the scheme extents.
Core Path 118 is located approximately 101m south of the scheme extents. There are no footpaths, or any Public Rights of Way (PRoW) located within the scheme extents.
National Cycle Network Route 7 is located approximately 101m south of the scheme extents. This route is in sections between Sunderland and Inverness, forming parts of the famous Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route.
There are no bridleways located within 300m of the works area. There are no laybys or any direct access/egress points to residential properties located within the scheme extents.
There are also no bus stops located within the scheme extents, however, multiple bus routes travel along the A75 and A76 carriageway.
Streetlights border either side of the A75 and A76 carriageway.
Road drainage and the water environment
SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has not highlighted any watercourses within 500m of the scheme extents. There are also no ponds located within 250m of the works area.
Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of Lower Nithsdale Sand and Gravel groundwater, (ID: 150810), which has an overall good quality.
SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted that there are some areas within the scheme extents that are susceptible to a medium (0.5%) chance of surface water flooding.
Drainage within the scheme extents consist of catchpits, gullies and filter stones.
The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Climate
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 SW NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.
Policies and Plans
This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.