Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme extents cover a largely rural stretch of the A90 carriageway, within Angus, with the town of Brechin located to the south. Baseline air quality surrounding the scheme extents is likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A90, with secondary sources from agricultural and residential activities.

Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 within the scheme extents (site number: 10863) was counted at 16,390 total vehicles, with 2,168 (13.2%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Angus Council currently has no designated Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). 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 approximately 100 air quality-sensitive receptors located within 200m of the scheme extents, including agricultural and residential properties. Most receptors are concentrated in Brechin which lies south of the scheme extents. The nearest residential receptor is located approximately 10m from the boundary of the southbound carriageway, at grid reference NO 57097 59804.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study has been undertaken using (Historic Scotland Designations and PastMap), 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.

There are no statutory cultural heritage features located within the scheme footprint, however, the following six are located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • A Category B Listed Building, Ann’s (LB5008) located 115m north at NO 56765 59846.
  • A Category C Listed Building, Kintrockat Lodge and Gates (LB5012) located 35m south at NO 57022 59754.
  • A Category B Listed Building, Keithock, Main Gates (LB5052) located 245m southeast at NO 60683 63412.
  • A Category B Listed Building, Little Keithock Dovecot (LB5054) located 230m southeast at NO 60667 62639.
  • A Category C Listed Building, Little Keithock Bridge Over Keithock Burn (LB5049) located 255m southeast at NO 60673 62596.
  • A Scheduled Monument, Keithock, Roman Camp N Of East Mains of Keithock (SM2303) located 140m northeast at NO 61109 63521.

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 approximately 25 records listed on the HER and NRHE located within 200m, with the following located within the scheme extents:

  • St Ann’s Well, Brechin HER (N055NE0001), a documentary record only.
  • West Lodge and Gates, St Ann's Cottage, Brechin HER (NO55NE0031), gates and lodges.
  • Main Gates, St Ann's Cottage, Brechin HER (NO55NE0032), gates.
  • Cookston HER (NO56SE0365), a documentary record only.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme lies within a predominantly rural setting, characterised largely by rectilinear fields and farms to the north, and recreation and urban area to the south (HLAMap). Two unnamed areas of long-established (of plantation origin) woodland designated under the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) are located adjacent to the scheme extents, approximately 5m north and south of the carriageway towards the scheme’s start (centred at NO 57426 59999) (Scotland’s Environment Map). No other landscape designations, including Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are present within 500m.

The scheme falls within the Broad Valley Lowlands - Tayside Landscape Character Type (LCT 384), characterised by broad, low agricultural land.

Visual

There are approximately three visual receptors of the scheme, which are residential properties located along Banks of Brechin. There are additional residential visual receptors with a partial view of the scheme, due to natural screening and the general land arrangement and topography.

Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A90, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

The River South Esk Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (EU Site Code UK0030262) is located within 2km of the scheme, approximately 750m at its closest point (Sitelink).

Two unnamed areas of long-established (of plantation origin) woodland designated under the AWI are located adjacent to the scheme extents, approximately 5m north and south of the carriageway toward the scheme’s start (centred at NO 57426 59999). No other landscape designations, including TPOs are present within 200m.

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 invasive non-native species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents. Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium), a Transport Scotland target species is 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 sedimentary sandstone of the Scone Sandstone Formation, formed between 419.2 and 393.3 million years ago (Mya) (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer).

Superficial deposits consist of the following sedimentary deposits:

  • Sand and gravel from Glaciofluvial Sheet Deposits, formed during the Quaternary period between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago.
  • Till, Devensian (Diamicton) formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period

Soils

The local soil type within scheme extents is recorded as humus-iron podzols and brown earths (Scotland’s Soils).

Material assets and waste

Materials

Materials required are as follows:

  • Asphalt, concrete and aggregates for new surfacing;
  • Sealant/bonding for joints;
  • Steel barrier and posts;
  • Concrete for crossover barrier;
  • Concrete for barrier foundations;
  • Red chips to be installed at new barrier sections on approach to the crossovers;
  • Road marking materials/paint;
  • Vehicle fuel;
  • Oil; and

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 asphalt surfacing will contain a percentage of recycled material.

Wastes

Wastes are anticipated to include:

  • Carriageway surfacing planings, consisting of concrete and asphalt; and
  • Existing concrete barrier and foundations.

Waste will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices.

There is no known evidence of coal tar containing road planings.

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, however, with urban and residential land to the south. Baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the A90, with secondary sources from agricultural and residential activities. For AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

Modelled day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels along the scheme exceed 80dB, and night noise levels (Lnight) for the period 23:00-07:00 range from >70B to 75dB. At the closest receptor, Lnight is recorded between >60B to 65dB and Lden between >70B to 75dB (Scotland’s Noise Map).

There are approximately 150 noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) comprising agricultural and residential properties located within 300m. The majority of receptors are located in Brechin, to the south of the scheme extents, with the nearest residential receptor situated approximately 10 metres from the southbound carriageway boundary at grid reference NO 57097 59804.

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 approximately 150 receptors located within 300m, with the nearest residential receptor located 10m from the southbound carriageway boundary at grid reference NO 57097 59804.

Brechin Castle Centre, a recreational facility is located approximately 120m south. No other community facilities (educational, medical or religious) are located within 300m. Furthermore, the works will be fully contained within the carriageway boundary, requiring no land take from residential, agricultural, business, or community land.

Access to local roads (A935 and B966) is within the scheme extents, providing access to residential properties and community facilities.

The following core paths are located within the scheme surroundings (Core Paths map | Angus Council):

  • Barrelwell to A90 is located adjacent to the northbound carriageway at the scheme end;
  • Trinity to Cookstown Road located on a A90 overbridge; and
  • Little Keithock located on an A90 overbridge.

There is no other provision for walkers, cyclists, or horse-riders (WCH) along the scheme extents.

No lighting points or bus stops are located along the scheme extents. Two laybys are located along the scheme extents at grid reference NO 57937 60372 and NO 59695 61701.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

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

No statutory surface watercourses, designated under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA) Water Classification Hub) are located within 500m of the scheme. Numerous non-statutory watercourses and field drains are located within 500m, with one, Keithock Burn, flowing beneath the scheme extents at approximately NO 60508 62808.

Groundwater

The scheme lies within the Brechin groundwater body (ID 150573) which was classified as having a ‘Good’ overall condition under the WFD in 2023 (SEPA Water Classification Hub). The scheme is located within the Strathmore and Fife (including Finavon) a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Flood risk

Localised areas of the scheme extents are at risk of surface water flooding, ranging from low (0.1%) to high (10%) (SEPA’s Flood Map). The scheme is located within a 2028-2034 potentially vulnerable area (PVA), where the highest flood risk is likely to occur in the future (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.