Description of local environment

Air quality

A search of the Air Quality in Scotland online mapping records that air quality monitoring sites in the wider area record bandings in the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The scheme lies within the boundary of the City of Edinburgh Council, which has four active Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) within its administrative boundary. The closest of which is, ‘Edinburgh AQMA No.1 City Centre’, located approx. 3.7km northwest of the scheme extents and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

There are 11 sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for pollutant releases to air within 10km of the scheme:

North British Distillery, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh – Animal and Vegetable Products from the Food and Beverage Sector, declared for carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), located approx. 4.4km north of the scheme.
MacFarlan Smith Limited, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh – Chemical Industry, declared for chloroform, NMVOCs and toluene, located approx. northwest 4.4km northwest of the scheme.
Sighthill Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh – Animal and Vegetable Products from the Food and Beverage Sector, declared for HFCs, located approx. 4.6km northwest of the scheme.
Millerhill Anaerobic Digestion Facility, Dalkeith – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for ammonia, carbon monoxide and methane, located approx. 5.6km northeast of the scheme.
Oatslie Sandpit Landfill, Cleugh Road, Midlothian – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for CO₂, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs and methane, located approx. 5.7km southeast of the scheme.
Gogarbank Poultry, Corstorphine, Edinburgh – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, particulate matter (PM₁₀ and smaller), located approx. 6.3km northwest of the scheme.
Drummond Moor (No2) Landfill, Rosewell, Midlothian – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for CFCs, HCFCs and methane, located approx. 8.5km southeast of the scheme.
Millerhill Recycling and Energy Recovery Centre – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for antimony, cadmium, CO₂, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans as WHO TEQ, manganese, mercury, nickel, nitrogen oxide (NO) as NO₂, PM₅ and smaller, located approx. 8.5km northeast of the scheme.
Shewington OCCS, Newbigging OCCS, Whitehill – Mineral Industry, declared for methane, located approx. 8.8km southeast of the scheme.
Ravelrig Quarry, Kirknewton, Midlothian – Mineral Industry, declared for PM₁₀ and smaller and PM₅ and smaller, located approx. 8.9km southwest of the scheme.
Edinburgh Sewage Treatment Works, Leith – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for ammonia, CO₂, chloroform and methane, located approx. 9.1km northeast of the scheme.

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A720 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day woodland and agricultural land management activities.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools records two designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents, none of which have connectivity to the scheme (i.e., lie > 15m from the scheme):

Swanston Conservation Area (CA) lies approx. 17m south of the scheme and is highlighted for its architecture, with the only thatched properties remaining within the Edinburgh City boundary being present within the CA.
Dreghorn Mains, Woodend Cottage Listed Building (LB28169) lies approx. 170m northwest of the scheme.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, seven undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which lies approx. 170m northwest of the scheme:

Edinburgh, Dreghorn, Woodend Canmore (ID: 237017) and Historic Environment Record (HER).

Construction of the A720 carriageway is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the trunk road boundary. The potential for the presence of unknown archaeological remains in the study area is therefore assessed to be low.

Factor has no constraints that are likely to be impacted by the proposed works and has therefore been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is not situated within a National Scenic Area or National Park (NP).

The Scottish Landscape Character Type map (Scottish Landscape Character Types) records no Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extents. LCT 268-Upland Hills – Lothian borders the A720 to the south of the scheme, the key characteristics of which are as follows:

Visually sensitive north-facing escarpment overlooking Edinburgh and its predominantly flat surrounding area.
Two parallel ridge lines separated by a deep internal valley.
Visual containment of inner valleys and core areas.
Diversity of landcover types, including heather moor, grassland, broadleaf woodland, open water and wetland.
Drystone dykes and sheep stells on upper slopes.
Rich variety of heritage assets, including cairns, forts and enclosures.
Heavily used recreational resource, with network of footpaths and minor tracks linking important access points.
Visual importance derived from dominant position within heavily populated lowland area.
Forms a distinct and recognisable backdrop from many settlements within adjacent lowlands and Upland Fringes.
Panoramic views from summits and ridges.

Land use within 300m of the scheme is categorised into the following:

Motorway and major roads.
Urban area.
Military site.
Golf course.
Industrial and commercial areas.
Rectilinear fields and farms.

The national scale land capability for agriculture classifies land surrounding the scheme as being:

‘Class 3.1’ - Land capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and/ or moderate yields of a wider range. Short grass leys are common.

There are four areas of woodland on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) within 300m of the scheme extents, all of which are assessed to be lowland mixed deciduous woodland:

0.6ha lies approx. 211m northwest of the scheme.
1.1ha lies approx. 255m north of the scheme.
0.6ha lies approx. 265m northwest of the scheme.
0.5ha lies approx. 268m north of the scheme.

Additionally, there are three areas of woodland on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland within 300m of the scheme extents, all of which are assessed to be of long-established plantation origin:

2.2ha lies approx. 151m south of the scheme.
22ha lies approx. 174m northwest of the scheme.
Hunter’s Tryst Plantation (approx. 4.8ha) lies approx. 286m north of the scheme.

In addition, the following woodland lies within 300m of the scheme extents:

Conifer woodland (approx. 2.5ha).
Mixed mainly conifer woodland (approx. 0.5ha).
Broadleaved woodland (approx. 0.5ha).
Young trees (approx. 7.3ha).

There are no trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) with connectivity to the scheme extents.

The existing trunk road is a prominent linear landscape feature. The trunk road corridor, for example, has a distinct character shaped by fast-flowing traffic, road markings, safety barriers, signage, landscaping etc. The scale of the trunk road detracts from the quality and character of the wider landscape.

Biodiversity

The NatureScot Sitelink online mapping tool identifies that the scheme does not share connectivity with or lie within 2km of any European Sites (e.g. SAC, SPA or Ramsar Site).

There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents. However, the Pentland Hills Regional Park is located to the south of the scheme bordering the westbound carriageway of the A720.

A search of the NBN online mapping tool records six plant species listed within the Network Management Contract (NMC) within 2km of the scheme extents (within the last 10-years):

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS):

Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica).

Injurious Weeds:

Broadleaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense).
Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare).

Invasive Native Perennials:

Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The nearest record pertains to Japanese knotweed (recorded in 2015) and spear thistle (recorded in 2016) approx. 0.7km south of the scheme.

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records common ragwort throughout the verge of the scheme extents. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is also present approx. 80m northwest of the western extents of the scheme within the verge of the eastbound offslip.

Habitat immediately bordering the trunk road tends to be of low intrinsic value because the existing road verge is subject to cyclic maintenance e.g., grass cutting, weed control, tree, and shrub cut-back etc. The roadside verges are comprised of homogenous managed areas of semi-improved grassland alongside broadleaved tree lines and scrub. Roadside vegetation generally offers low ecological habitat value due to its limited scale, fragmented nature and high potential for disturbance owing to cyclic landscape maintenance and the proximity of the trunk road (with its fast-flowing traffic). The presence of the trunk road also restricts continuity of, and connectivity between, habitats either side of the trunk road boundary.

Outwith the trunk road boundary, urban areas lie to the north which relate primarily to residential areas. To the south large areas of agricultural land surrounding the scheme forms a pattern of open and exposed fields containing predominantly pastoral land, out with these fields, pockets of deciduous woodland are found to the south of the scheme. The result of this intensive agricultural land management and urban areas to the north is to restrict the occurrence of semi-natural and natural vegetation types. Most field boundaries are comprised of wooden fencing and vegetative features further delineating field boundaries e.g., shrub hedgerow, rough grassland, ruderal herb stands and scrub. Linear features at field boundaries have wildlife value, both as corridors in an intensively managed landscape, and as habitats for birds and small animals.

Geology and soils

The A720 within the scheme extents is not located within 300m of a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) One Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) is present within 300m of the scheme extents. Dreghorn Link LGS is located approx. 70m north alongside the Dreghorn Link Road and relates to two 300m long road cut exposures that show a type of ‘Upper Old Red Sandstone’ of latest Devonian age (359 million years old).The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records that the generalised soil types beneath the scheme extents are:

Alluvial Soils.
Brown Soils.

The major soil groups beneath the scheme extents are:

Mineral Gleys.
Alluvial Soils.
Brown Soils.

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records that the superficial geology within the scheme extents is comprised of:

Till, Devensian (Diamicton).

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

Kinnesswood Formation (Sandstone).

There is no evidence of historical industrial processes or the storage of hazardous materials that could have given rise to significant land contamination.

Factor has no constraints that are likely to be impacted by the proposed works and has therefore been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to replace the worn carriageway surface and reinstate road markings. Materials used will consist of:

TS2010 10mm Site Class 1 Surface Course.
AC20 Dense Binder.
Tack/Bond Coat.
Paving Grade Bitumen to seal vertical faces.
Weatherline+ and Thermoplastic Extrusion Road Markings.
Embedded and Surface Mounted Road Studs.

As the value of the scheme is less than £350,000, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required for these works.

The 1150m scheme involves removal of the surface course and localised areas of binder. In total, approx. 1225 tonnes of bituminous material (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 02) will be removed from site, none of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar.

Noise and vibration

Receptors – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or Candidate Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time modelled noise level (Lngt) ranges between 70 and >80 decibels within the scheme extents (Scotland’s Noise), with levels dropping to between 70 and 75 decibels at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (residential property).

The baseline noise and vibration in the scheme extents is primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the A720 trunk road. Secondary sources most likely arise from day-to-day agricultural activities and from motor vehicles travelling along nearby roads.

Population and human health

Numerous residential properties and a golf course are found within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which (residential properties) lie approx. 18m north of the scheme and are partially screened from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt.

One additional property of note lies within 300m of the scheme extents:

Travelodge Edinburgh Dreghorn lies approx. 52m north of the scheme and is partially screened from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt.

One core path (ID: CEC2) is located within the eastern and western extents of the scheme; however, it does not have connectivity to the scheme as it crosses the A720 via an overpass.

Street lighting is not present within the scheme extents.

The A720, within the scheme extents, is a dual carriageway with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) flow is high (89,836 motor vehicles) (ID: 91215, 2023)) (Road Traffic Statistics).

Road drainage and the water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) River Basin Management Plan online mapping tool records one classified surface waterbody within 300m of the scheme extents:

Burdiehouse Burn/Swanston Burn is a river in the Edinburgh Coastal catchment of the Scotland river basin district (ID: 3600) which is located approx. 40m south of the eastern extents of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by the westbound A720 and approx. 30m of woodland. The river is also culverted below the A720 approx. 110m east of the scheme. The main stem is approximately 15.3km in length, is culverted below the eastern extents of the scheme and classified as being in ‘Poor’ condition. The water body has been designated as a heavily modified water body on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without a significant impact on the drainage of agricultural land.

Four unclassified surface waterbodies are located within 300m of the scheme extents:

Drain1, a tributary of Burdiehouse / Swanston Burn, lies approx. 38m south of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by the A720 westbound carriageway and roadside tree shelterbelt.
Drain2 lies approx. 51m south of the scheme.
Drain3 lies approx. 244m south of the scheme.
Drain4 lies approx. 293m southeast of the scheme.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that one small area on the A720 eastbound carriageway within the scheme extents is recorded as having a medium likelihood of surface water flooding (i.e., each year this area has a 0.5% chance of flooding) and areas adjacent to the eastbound carriageway are recorded as having a high likelihood of surface water flooding (i.e., each year these areas have a 10% chance of flooding).

A search of Scotland's Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road lies on the ‘Morningside’ groundwater, which has been classified as being in ‘Good’ condition.

The scheme extents are not located within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Climate

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.

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

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