Introduction

Background

In August 2021, it was agreed by the Scottish Government to take forward a transport enhancements programme on the A96 corridor that improves connectivity between surrounding towns, tackles congestion and addresses safety and environmental issues.

Whilst the current plan is to fully dual the A96 route, it was agreed as part of this process there would be a transparent, evidence-based review of the programme, to include a climate compatibility assessment to assess direct and indirect impacts on the climate and the environment. Other statutory assessments would also be undertaken which include a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Statutory Impact Assessments (SIAs).

As it has already received Ministerial consent following a Public Local Inquiry, dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Nairn as well as a bypass of Nairn is separate from the wider A96 review process.

The A96 Corridor Review is being carried out in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). ( Transport Scotland (2022) Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance – Managers Guide. ) STAG is the best practice, objective-led approach to transport appraisal. The transport appraisal has considered all relevant transport modes within the A96 corridor, including active travel, public transport, rail and roads-based transport modes. Adopting STAG also brings the review in line with the same methodology as set out in the Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

The A96 Corridor Review is being carried out by design consultants Jacobs AECOM acting on behalf of Transport Scotland. Jacobs AECOM supported Transport Scotland undertaking STPR2. The review considers transport problems and opportunities within the A96 corridor. It also looks at the changing policy context and other key considerations, such as development and growth aims for the corridor and surrounding area. Additionally, it considers the impact of the global climate emergency and the COVID-19 pandemic on how people work and travel within the corridor.

A96 Corridor Review Impact Assessments

Accompanying the A96 Corridor Review, Jacobs AECOM are undertaking a series of social and equality impact assessments on the detailed appraisal options. This includes the following:

  • Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA)
  • Childs Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA)
  • Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSDA).

At the scoping stage, FSDA reporting was combined with the EqIA, CRWIA and Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) as an integrated Social and Equality Impact Assessment (SEqIA). A SEqIA Scoping Report was developed for the A96 Corridor Review which provided a full policy review, baseline evidence, findings from stakeholder engagement activities and set out proposed equality topics and objectives to use as a framework for the assessments. The report was distributed to consultees during February and March 2023 in order to gather views on the evidence collated, scope of the impact assessment and proposed approach. The need to undertake a full ICIA was scoped out in the scoping stage based on the geographical location of Island communities not likely to generate direct impacts of the A96 Corridor Review. At this stage of reporting, individual full impact assessments have been prepared for the EqIA, CRWIA and FSDA. This report sets out the approach and findings of the FSDA.

Purpose and Structure of FSDA Report

As a public body, Transport Scotland has a legal responsibility when creating new plans and policies to pay due regard to the Fairer Scotland Duty, set out in Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

This FSDA report has been prepared to determine if Full Dualling and the packages of transport intervention options being considered as part of the A96 Corridor Review might lead to any potential impacts on socio-economically disadvantaged groups and help to reduce inequalities of outcome resulting from socio-economic disadvantage. It demonstrates Transport Scotland’s due regard to the Fairer Scotland Duty. Full Dualling and the transport packages are outlined in Chapter 6 of this report.

The chapters within this report include:

  • Chapter 1 summarises the general background to the A96 Corridor Review and FSDA and various impact assessments required for the review.
  • Chapter 2 provides detail on the legislative context for the FSDA.
  • Chapter 3 presents a baseline summary of the key issues and evidence for socio-economically disadvantaged groups pertinent to the A96 Corridor Review.
  • Chapter 4 describes the approach undertaken to stakeholder engagement and consultation.
  • Chapter 5 describes the approach to assessment.
  • Chapter 6 provides the findings of the assessment of impacts by Full Dualling and detailed appraisal transport intervention packages.
  • Chapter 7 summarises high-level conclusions and next steps.