Introduction

Purpose of Summary

The purpose of this document is to provide a non-technical summary of the A96 Corridor Review Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Draft Environmental Report.

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). 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.

Background to the A96 Corridor Review SEA

In 2015, a Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Stage 1 Assessment for the initial development and assessment of broadly defined improvement strategies for the upgrade of the A96 to an all-purpose dual carriageway was published. A two-phased SEA was also carried out at this time, with reports published in 2014 and 2015 , and the Post Adoption Statement published in 2016 . There was a need to undertake a new SEA Screening in 2022, to help determine whether a new SEA was required for the A96 Corridor Review. This SEA Screening Report concluded that a new SEA would be required, to establish the likely significant environmental effects of the A96 Corridor Review.

SEA Requirements

SEA is a means of systematically assessing Plans, Programmes or Strategies (PPS) that are likely to have significant environmental effects, if implemented. An SEA ‘screening’ exercise determined that the A96 Corridor Review could also potentially lead to significant environmental effects in the same way that PPS could (see A96 Corridor Review Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report ).

SEA aims to offer greater protection to the environment by ensuring public bodies (in this case, Transport Scotland) and those organisations preparing plans of a ‘public character’ consider and address the likely significant environmental effects. The approach to the A96 Corridor Review SEA is described in Section 3. The consultation process for this SEA is summarised in Section 6.

Related Assessments

Where not already covered by assessments for other Plans, Programmes and Strategies, the A96 Corridor Review is accompanied by other environmental-related impact assessments. These comprise the SEA, a strategic-level Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and a non-statutory Climate Compatibility Assessment (CCA).

The Stage 1 (Screening) in the HRA process could not rule out significant effects on 11 European sites, designated for their biodiversity importance. The next stage in the HRA process, Stage 2 (Appropriate Assessment), is therefore required for these 11 European Sites. This Appropriate Assessment will be undertaken when a final set of interventions has been determined, to avoid unnecessary appraisal of interventions which may be removed from consideration at a later stage and not recommended to be progressed.

The CCA found that the existing transport appraisal and assessment processes applied to the A96 Corridor Review, including the associated Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs), shows a strong alignment with the CCA criteria developed. Where interventions are taken forward that have combined outcomes, such as where they affect the same settlement, they should be developed to optimise for lowest carbon and best climate resilience and adaptation outcome. Cumulative effects will also need to be assessed, including for relevant schemes that are already consented.

The need for various other assessments, including an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) , Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSDA) and Child Rights and Wellbeing Assessment (CRWIA) was determined through consultation on a separate Social and Equalities Impact Assessment Scoping Report. A Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) has also been prepared. The Equality Impact Assessments and the Partial BRIA will be published for consultation at the same time as this Draft Environmental Report. An Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) has not been undertaken due to the geographic location of the A96 corridor.

The various social-related Impact Assessments and the Partial BRIA will need to be updated when Full Dualling or any transport packages are taken forward to the next stages of design.