Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is located along a largely rural stretch of the A90 carriageway. Baseline air quality surrounding the scheme extents is likely to be influenced by traffic flow along the A90 trunk road and surrounding agricultural activities. Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2023 recorded 660m south of the scheme extents was estimated at 17,338 total vehicles, with 2,344 (13.5%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

There are approximately seven air quality-sensitive receptors within 300m of the scheme extents, none of which directly line the A90 carriageway. The closest receptor is located approximately 60m northwest at NO 45180 53906.

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km.

Angus Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

Cultural heritage

A desktop study (PastMap) has not identified any designated cultural heritage assets (Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, World Heritage Sites) within 300m of the scheme extents.

The following non-designated cultural heritage features, (all Historic Environment Records (HERs)) are recorded within 200m:

• Parkford (NO45SE0049) located 15m from the scheme;
• Wardmill (NO45SE0093) located 20m from the scheme;
• Lenmo Burn (NO45SE0006) located 20m from the scheme; and
• Hill of Carse (NO45SE0005) located 175m from the scheme.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme is located within a largely rural area, with no statutory or non-statutory landscape designations located within 500m, or with a view to or from the scheme extents (Sitelink). The central reservation where VRS replacement works are to occur, consists of short, perennial grass and vegetation, and the surrounding landscape consists predominantly of agricultural land, classed as rectilinear fields and farms (HLAMap). The scheme is located within the Broad Valley Lowlands - Tayside Landscape Character Type (LCT 384).

No areas of woodland classified under the Ancient Woodland Inventory or Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are in the scheme surroundings or anticipated to be impacted by the works.

Visual

There are approximately four visual receptors of the scheme, all of which are residential receptors. The closest receptor is set back approximately 60m from the scheme and is largely screened from the works by vegetation.

Other visual receptors of the scheme will include road users (motorists, public transport users) of the A90; however, such receptors are transient in nature.

Biodiversity

The scheme is located 135m southeast from the River South Esk Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (NatureScot ID: 8364). A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken to determine the potential for Likely Significant Effects (LSE) to the European designated site and its qualifying features.

No other European designated sites are located within 2km, or with hydrological connectivity to the scheme. There are no locally or nationally designated biodiversity sites located within 300m of the scheme such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), or National Nature Reserves (SiteLink).

No areas of woodland classified under the Ancient Woodland Inventory or Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are in the scheme surroundings or anticipated to be impacted by the works.

Two ponds are located approximately 95m north of the scheme.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) and NBN Atlas have not recorded any Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme. However, AMPS has recorded the injurious weed species of rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and common ragwort (Jacobea vulgaris) within the roadside verge of the northbound carriageway along the scheme extents.

Due to the location of the works within engineered layers of the carriageway central reserve, a Preliminary Ecological Walkover (PEW) has been scoped out by a qualified ecologist.

Geology and soils

Geology

Bedrock geology (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer) within the scheme extents is comprised of:

• Sedimentary bedrock of the Scone Sandstone Formation (sandstone) formed between 419.2 and 393.3 million years ago (Mya) during the Devonian period.

Superficial deposits are recorded as:

• Sedimentary superficial deposits of Till, Devensian (Diamicton) formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

The scheme does not lie within or have connectivity to any statutory or non-statutory geological sites, including Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), geological SSSIs, or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) (SiteLink).

Soils

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

Material assets and waste

Materials

Materials required are as follows:

• Steel barriers and posts;
• Concrete; and

Materials will be derived 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 new metal VRS barriers and fixings will contain an element of recycled metal material.

Wastes

• Steel barriers and posts;
• Fixings; and
• Concrete foundation material.

The scheme value is in excess of £350,000 and therefore a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be prepared.

Noise and vibration

Baseline noise levels surrounding scheme extents are likely to be influenced by traffic flow along the A90 trunk road and surrounding agricultural activities. For AADF details, please refer to the ‘Air Quality’ section above.

Scotland’s Noise Map records day-evening-night levels (Lden) along the scheme extents at >70 to 75dB. Modelled night levels (Lnight) along the scheme extents are modelled at >60 to 65dB.

The scheme is not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or Candidate Quiet Area (CQA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan (Road Maps) (TNAP).

There are approximately seven noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) within 300m of the scheme extents, none of which directly line the A90 carriageway. These NSRs are residential and agricultural properties, with the closest receptor located approximately 60m northwest at NO 45180 53906.

Population and human health

The closest residential property is located approximately 60m northwest of the scheme at NO 45180 53906. There are approximately seven residential receptors located within 300m of the scheme extents. Approximately 10 access points to residential and agricultural holdings are located along the A90 northbound and southbound carriageways.

No land take (private property, agricultural land, business land, or community land) is required as all works will be contained to the central reserve within the carriageway boundary.

No walker, cyclist or horse-rider (WCH) routes (including Angus Council core paths) or National Cycle Network routes are located along the A90 within the scheme extents.

No community land or assets (healthcare, educational, religious, or recreational facilities) are located within 300m of the scheme extents.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

Lenmo Burn (ID: 5806) classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) runs parallel to the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents and is located approximately 135m north of the scheme at its closest point. This watercourse has an overall moderate ecological potential and good water quality (SEPA Water Classification Hub). No other watercourses (classified or unclassified) are located within 500m of the scheme extents.

Two culverts are located along scheme extents, carrying field drainage beneath the A90 carriageway at the NGRs NO 46648 54571 and NO 47009 54738. Road drainage is provided by top-entry gullies and filter drains along the scheme extents.

Groundwater

The scheme is located within Finavon groundwater body (ID: 150615), with good overall condition (SEPA Water Classification Hub).

The scheme is located within the Strathmore and Fife (including Finavon) Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Flood risk

No areas of the carriageway within the scheme extents are recognised at risk of surface or river flooding. Lenmo Burn has a high chance (10%) of flooding (pluvial and fluvial) annually (SEPA Flood Map).

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change. The Act includes a target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). 

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to set out how it will instead reach net-zero by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030. By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reduce 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, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, TS 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 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. 

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.