Description of local environment

Air quality

There are approximately four residential properties within 200m of the scheme extents, with the closest residential property being located 113m south on Dubbs Road. Other sensitive air quality receptors include the following:

Todhill Country Centre located approximately 45m south of the scheme extents.
The Red Squirrel by Marston’s Inns located approximately 61m north of the scheme extents.

The baseline air quality levels are likely to be influenced by the traffic flow travelling along the A78 carriageway. This is evident from data collected at the manual count point (40760) located within the scheme extents. In 2023, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 33,802, with 1,466 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

North Ayrshire Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

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

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmaps. A study area of 300m has been used for designated cultural heritage assets and an area of 200m for non-designated cultural heritage assets.

There are no designated cultural heritage assets located within 300m of the scheme extents.

See Table 1 below for full details of non-designated cultural heritage assets.

Table 1: Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m
NAME	REFERENCE NUMBER	DESCRIPTION	DISTANCE FROM SCHEME
Archaeological Evaluation: A78 Ardrossan, Saltcoats And Stevenston Bypass, North Ayrshire	5418	Historic Environment Record (HER) - Archaeological Event Record	Within the scheme extents
Archaeological Evaluation: Pennyburn Roundabout, Castlehill Road, Stevenston	4840	HER - Archaeological Event Record	Approx. 65m north of the scheme extents
Stevenston, Kilwinning Road, Supermarket	292776	Canmore - Supermarket (Modern)	Approx. 150m southwest
Stevenston, Kilwinning Road, Supermarket	88622	HER - Supermarket (Modern)	Approx. 150m southwest
Historic Environment Appraisal: West Byrehill Industrial Estate, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire	5048	HER - Archaeological Event Record	Approx. 10m north adjacent to the scheme extents
Todhill Country Centre	373822	Canmore - No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned)	Approx. 140m south
Watching Brief: Todhill Country Centre, Stevenston, North Ayrshire	6890	HER - Archaeological Event Record	Approx. 140m south
Bradan To Dreghorn Pipeline	359098	Canmore - Mine Workings (Period Unassigned), Unidentified Pottery(S) (Post Medieval), Unidentified Pottery(S) (Medieval)	Approx. 85m south
Archaeological Watching Brief: Bradan To Dreghorn Pipeline	6290	HER - Archaeological Event Record	Approx. 85m south
Todhill Farm	41055	Canmore - Crannog (Period Unassigned)	Approx. 110m south
Todhill Farm / Penny Burn	5630	HER - Crannog	Approx. 110m south
Kilwinning, Bridge	184206	Canmore - Bridge (Period Unassigned)	Approx. 83m south
Kilwinning, Bridge	75175	HER - Bridge (Period Unassigned)	Approx. 83m south

As works are like-for-like structural inlays within the existing carriageway boundary, there will be no impacts on any cultural heritage assets identified or on potential unknown archaeological remains and therefore cultural heritage has been scoped out of further assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located along a stretch of the A78, south of Kilwinning in North Ayrshire. The carriageway is bordered by vegetation and shrubs with dense, deciduous trees in some areas. Agricultural fields surround the scheme extents to the north, east and south. Residential properties dominate the wider area of the north and west making up the towns Kilwinning and Stevenston. There are no distinctive historical landscape features within the scheme extents.

According to Scotland’s Environment Web, there are no National Scenic Areas, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), Ancient Woodlands or any Gardens & Designed Landscapes within 500m of the scheme extents.

A search on Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map has identified that the land within the scheme extents was previously categorised as ‘Motorway and Major Roads’. The surrounding land was previously used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’ and ‘Industrial or Commercial Area’.

Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map classifies the scheme location as ‘60 - Low-Lying Coast’, characterised by low lying areas and estuarine landscapes.

The views from the carriageway are predominantly of mature trees; where trees are scarce, residential properties can be seen.

Due to vegetation coverage, the only receptors that will have views of the works are located along Dubbs Road. The works will also be visible to Todhill Country Centre located approximately 45m south due to vegetation sparsity in this area. No other businesses or recreational areas will have views of the works.

Biodiversity

The carriageway is bordered by vegetation and shrubs with dense, deciduous trees in some areas. Agricultural fields surround the scheme extents to the north, east and south. Garnock/Irvine Estuary is located approximately 300m southeast of the scheme extents.

A desktop study using NatureScot’s Sitelink online research tool has not highlighted any European designated sites within 2km of the scheme extents or any national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within 200m of the scheme extents.

The following target species and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) can be found within 500m, however, none of which are located within the scheme extents:

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)

A search on Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has identified Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) along the verge of the A78 carriageway within the scheme extents.

The scheme and the surrounding habitat have been reviewed by a senior ecologist utilising desktop resource. As a result, the need for a field survey was scoped out due to the nature of the works and due to the fact that all works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary.

Geology and soils

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity or lie within 200m of the scheme extents according to Sitelink.

According to Scotland’s Soils Map, the soil within the scheme extents has been identified as Brown earths, Noncalcareous gleys and Mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils. The national land capability for agriculture within the works area has been classed as ‘3.1’. This land is capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and/ or moderate yields of a wider range. Short grass leys are common.

A search on Britain’s Geology Viewer has highlighted that the geology within the scheme extents along the A78 consists of the following:

Bedrock Geology

Troon Volcanic Member - Basalt, olivine-macrophyric. Igneous bedrock formed between 329 and 319 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, coal measure type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 319 and 318 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.

Superficial Deposits

Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
Raised Marine Deposits of Holocene Age - Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 11.8 thousand years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
Alluvium - Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 11.8 thousand years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.

As the works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary and previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.

Material assets and waste

A site waste management plan (SWMP) will be required for this scheme.

The works are required to resurface the worn carriageway and reinstate road markings and studs. Materials used will consist of:

TS2010 surface course;
AC20 bituminous binder;
AC32 bituminous base;
Aluminium/glass/reflective lenses for road studs; and,
Road marking paint

Wastes are anticipated to be asphalt planings from the carriageway surface course and coal tar recorded from coring logs within scheme extents. The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of uncontaminated road planings, and this will be registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011. Road planings containing coal tar will be classed as special waste and removed to an appropriately licenced waste management facility.

Noise and vibration

There are approximately 15 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the nearest property is located 113m south on Dubbs Road. Other sensitive noise and vibration receptors include the following:

Todhill Country Centre located approximately 45m south of the scheme extents.
The Red Squirrel by Marston’s Inns located approximately 61m north of the scheme extents.
Kilwinning Ambulance Station located approximately 220m north of the scheme extents.

Due to vegetation coverage, the only receptors that will have natural screening of the works are located along Dubbs Road. No businesses or community facilities will experience screening.

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

Baseline noise and vibration level is mainly influenced by the traffic flow along the A78 carriageway. Scotland’s Noise Map has highlighted that the noise level (Lden) recorded during daytime hours ranges from approximately 60dB to 73dB. During nighttime hours, the noise level (Lden) was recorded to range from 56dB to 60dB.

The volume of traffic along the A78 is demonstrated from manual count point 40760 located within the scheme extents. In 2023, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 33,802 with 1,466 of these being HGVs.

Population and human health

A study area of 300m was used in this assessment as works are unlikely to impact any receptors beyond 300m.

The area is relatively urbanised with approximately 15 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the nearest property is located 113m south on Dubbs Road.

Community facilities and businesses within the study area include the following:

Todhill Country Centre located approximately 45m south of the scheme extents.
The Red Squirrel by Marston’s Inns located approximately 61m north of the scheme extents.
Kilwinning Ambulance Station located approximately 220m north of the scheme extents.

Core Path IK27 is the only core path within 300m of the scheme extents. This core path crosses directly underneath the A78 at NGRs: NS 29182 42260 within the scheme extents. This route is also National Cycle Network Route 73, connecting the town of Kilmarnock to Ardrossan.

There are no bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents.

There are also no footpaths, bus stops, streetlights or any access/egress points to residential properties within the scheme extents.

There is one layby within the scheme extents located at NGRs: NS 29321 42210.

Road drainage and the water environment

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s Water Classification Hub, Garnock/ Irvine Estuary (ID: 200022) is located approximately 300m southeast of the scheme extents. This watercourse has an overall ‘good’ ecological potential. There are no other classified watercourses within 500m of the scheme extents.

Penny Burn flows through the scheme extents at NGRs NS 28261 42584. This watercourse is unclassified on SEPA’s map.

SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted that Garnock/Irvine Estuary has a high likelihood of river flooding that extends into the works area, suggesting that each year, this area has a 10% chance of flooding. There are also multiple areas within the scheme extents that are susceptible to surface water flooding.

The groundwater within the scheme extents consists of Kilmarnock groundwater, (ID: 150662), which has an overall ‘poor’ quality.

The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Drainage within the scheme extents consists of gullies along either side of the A78 carriageway.

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 SW NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW 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.

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