Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is located along the A75, north of Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway. The immediate scheme extents are bordered by deciduous trees and shrubs. Notably, some areas of the scheme have a lack of vegetation and are bordered by grass. The wider surroundings consist of agricultural fields to the north, east, and west, and the town of Castle Douglas to the south.

There are approximately 40 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents with the nearest located 20m to the south on Garden Hill Avenue. Castle Douglas High School is located approximately 180m south of the scheme.

Baseline air quality is primarily influenced by traffic along the A75 with secondary sources from agricultural activities. Manual count point 92153, located within the scheme extents, shows that in 2024, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 6205 with 860 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Dumfries and Galloway Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents.

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using PastMap. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets and an area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets (Table.1).

There are no designated cultural heritage assets, World Heritage Sites, or Inventory Battlefields located within 300m of the scheme extents.

Table 1: Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets
Name Reference Number Description Distance from Scheme
Castle Douglas, High School MDG27224 Historic Environment Record (HER) - School, War memorial Approximately 195m south of the scheme extents.
Hillowton MDG8940 HER - Country house Approximately 115m southeast of the scheme extents.
Hillowton, Stables MDG8941 HER - Stable Approximately 100m southeast of the scheme extents.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The immediate scheme extents are bordered by deciduous trees and shrubs. Notably, some areas of the scheme have a lack of vegetation and are bordered by grass. The wider surroundings consist of agricultural fields to the north, east, and west, and the town of Castle Douglas to the south.

According to Scotland’s Environment Web Map, there are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), National Scenic Areas (NSAs), or Gardens and Designed Landscapes located within 500m of the scheme extents. However, there are three Ancient Woodlands located within 500m of the scheme extents:

  • Knockwarely plantation (ID: 38235) located 405m north.
  • Knockwarely plantation (ID: 38236) located 395m north.
  • ID: 38240 located 490m southeast of the scheme.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment Map has highlighted that the land use within the scheme has historically been used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’, ‘Urban Area’, and ‘Designed Landscape’.

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme can be classed as ‘169 – Drumlin Pastures’, characterised by the following:

  • Distinctive elongated mounds with smoothly convex outlines, creating an undulating landform.
  • Smooth convex slopes of improved pasture, grazed by sheep and cattle.
  • Localised rugged knolls with gorse.
  • Medium scale fields with prominent wall and hedgerow patterns accentuating topography.
  • Small settlements and scattered farmsteads served by extensive network of minor roads.

Visual

Due to the dense vegetation, most residents will not have a view of the works. However, residents along Garden Hill Avenue, directly adjacent to the scheme, may have a view. Additionally, the works are set to take place in winter where trees may not have their leaves, potentially increasing visibility. Castle Douglas High School located approximately 180m south of the scheme, Chapmanton Farm located 420m northeast of the scheme, and Hillowton Farm located 275m northwest may also have a view of the works. There are no other visual receptors within 500m of the scheme extents.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

A desktop study using NatureScot’s Sitelink online research tool has identified the following European designations located 1.07km east of the scheme extents:

  • Loch Ken and River Dee Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA), (ID: 8528).
  • Loch Ken and River Dee Marshes Ramsar, (ID: 8435).

There are no national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), within 200m of the scheme extents.

Field survey

An ecological field survey has been scoped out after a desktop review by a qualified ecologist due to the nature of the works, and their containment within the carriageway boundary.

Invasive plants

The NBN Atlas shows that there are no Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) or target species within 500m of the scheme extents.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has not identified any target species or INNS along the A75, within the scheme extents.

Geology and soils

Geology

NatureScot’s Sitelink has not highlighted any Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity, or lie within, 200m of the scheme extents.

A search on Britain’s Geology Map has identified that the geology within the scheme extents along the A75 carriageway consists of the following:

Bedrock Geology

  • Carghidown Formation - Wacke. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 443.8 and 433.4 million years ago during the Silurian period.

Superficial Deposits

  • Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

Soils

According to Scotland’s Soil Map, the soil within the scheme consists of ‘Brown earths with noncalcareous gleys’ and ‘Noncalcareous gleys’. The national scale land capability for agriculture can be classed at ‘3.2’, capable of average production though high yields of barley, oats and grass can be obtained.

There are no landfill sites within 200m of the scheme extents according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPAs) Landfill sites and Capability Map.

The proposed construction activities will be confined to existing layers of the A75 and as result, are not anticipated to cause any change to, or have a negative impact on geology and soils. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed scheme does not require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is under £350,000.

Tables 2 and 3 below outline the materials required for the scheme, and waste expected to be produced during the works. During investigation stages, no coal tar was identified.

Table 2: Key Materials Required for Construction

Activity

Materials Required

Sources

Site Construction

· TS2010 surface course

· AC20 bituminous binder

· Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer (SAMI) bituminous base

· Tack/bond

· Road paint

· Road studs

· TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate sources.

· Materials will be obtained from secondary or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions.

· Materials will be mostly comprised of virgin aggregate.

Table 3: Key Waste Produced by Activities

Activity

Materials Required

Sources

Construction

Asphalt Planings

· Uncontaminated road planings resulting from the required works will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings

· Coal tar was not found during investigation stages

Noise and vibration

There are approximately 70 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the nearest located 20m to the south on Garden Hill Avenue. The only other sensitive receptors are Castle Douglas High School located approximately 180m south of the scheme and Hillowton Dairy Farm located 275m northwest of the scheme.

Baseline noise and vibration is primarily influenced by traffic along the A75 with secondary sources from agricultural activities. Manual count point 92153, located within the scheme extents, shows that in 2024, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 6205 with 860 of these being HGVs.

Scotland’s Noise Map has recorded that the noise level (Lday) during daytime hours, within the scheme extents, ranges from approximately 65dB to 71dB. During nighttime hours, the noise level (Lngt) within the scheme extents ranges from approximately 59dB to 68dB.

The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023).

Population and human health

Due to the like-for-like resurfacing of the works, a study area of 300m was used to determine baseline.

There are approximately 70 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the nearest located 20m to the south on Garden Hill Avenue. The only other sensitive receptors are Castle Douglas High School located approximately 180m south of the scheme and Hillowton Dairy Farm located 275m northwest of the scheme.

One access road to Hillowton Dairy farm from the A75 will be blocked overnight for the duration of the works. However, there are two other entrances to the farm from the local road C12s which will not be blocked at any point.

There are no Core Paths, National Cycle Network Routes, or Bridleways located within 300m of the scheme extents.

Due to the rural location, there are also no footways, bus stops, or streetlights within the scheme extents.

There are two laybys within the scheme extents located at the following NGRs:

  • NX 76333 63423
  • NX 76142 63315

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

There are no watercourses, ponds, reservoirs, or burns within 500m of the scheme extents. According to SEPA’s Water Classification Hub the closest watercourse is Gelston Burn/Carlingwark Lane, a river located 1.49km southeast of the scheme extents with poor ecological health.

Groundwater

Groundwater within the scheme consists of Castle Douglas groundwater (ID: 150672) which has an overall good quality. The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). Drainage within the scheme extents consists of both gullies and filter stones.

Flood risk

SEPA’s Flood Risk Map shows that Gelston Burn/Carlingwark Lane has an overall high (10%) likelihood of flooding; however, this does not extend within the scheme extents. There are no areas within the works location that is susceptible to surface water flooding.

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.

Monitoring, Management, and Opportunities

To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets. Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.

Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West

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.