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 ( A96 Corridor Review, Climate Compatibility Assessment Report (Draft): ) 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.

Strategic Environmental Assessment 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 ( EIA screening process ) determined that the A96 Corridor Review could also potentially lead to significant environmental effects in the same way that a PPS could.

Under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (hereby referred to as ‘the Act’), those bodies preparing qualifying Scottish plans are required to undertake a SEA of plans that are likely to have significant environmental effects, if implemented. The Act transposes the requirements of the European Community SEA Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC, 2001).

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.

Purpose and Structure of Environmental Report

The purpose of the Environmental Report is to present the assessed significant environmental effects of the A96 Corridor Review, including alternatives, in a form suitable for public consultation and use by decision makers.

In line with the requirements of Schedule 3 of the Act, the Environmental Report contains the following chapters:

  • Chapter 1 summarises the general background to the A96 Corridor Review and SEA and various impact assessments required for the A96 Corridor Review.
  • Chapter 2 provides a more detailed background and context for the A96 Corridor Review, including the A96 Corridor Review stages.
  • Chapter 3 shows the key relationships between the A96 Corridor Review and other Plans, Programmes and Strategies (PPS), including the environmental requirements associated with them.
  • Chapter 4 provides a summary of the environmental baseline.
  • Chapter 5 describes the approach to stakeholder engagement and consultation throughout the development of the A96 Corridor Review and the SEA.
  • Chapter 6 describes the approach for undertaking the SEA.
  • Chapter 7 provides a summary of the assessment findings.
  • Chapter 8 describes examples of mitigation measures required to avoid or minimise any significant negative effects that would arise from implementing the transport interventions contained within the A96 Corridor Review and enhancement measures to create and maximise positive environmental effects.
  • Chapter 9 provides an overview of the monitoring required for any significant environmental effects.
  • Chapter 10 summarises the next steps required in the SEA process.
  • Appendix A contains the constraints plans, depicting nationally or internationally significant environmental designations.
  • Appendix B contains a comprehensive review of the PPS that are summarised in Chapter 3 of this report.
  • Appendix C contains the detailed environmental baseline data, which is summarised in Chapter 4 of this report.
  • Appendix D contains the SEA Scoping Report consultation feedback and how the SEA was updated in response to this feedback.
  • Appendix E contains the assessment of the A96 Corridor Review Preliminary Appraisal Options, Full Dualling and Detailed Appraisal Packages.

A Non-Technical Summary of this Environmental Report is being consulted on alongside this Draft Environmental Report.

Background to the A96 Corridor Review SEA

In 2015, a Design Manual for Roads and Bridges ( DMRB ( Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Volume 11, Section 3, Part 1 LA 105 Air Quality. ) ) 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 A96 Dualling Programme Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was also carried out at this time, with two separate Environmental Reports published in 2014 ( Halcrow (2014) A96 Dualling Programme – Strategic Environmental Assessment – Tier 1 Environmental Report ) and 2015 ( Halcrow (2015) A96 Dualling Programme – Strategic Environmental Assessment – Tier 2 Environmental Report ) . The 2014 Environmental Report was the first phase, named Tier 1, which included the findings of the STAG appraisal. The 2015 Tier 2 Environmental Report presents the findings of the SEA of the Preliminary Engineering Services (PES) improvement strategies. It also summarises all SEA work undertaken on the A96 Dualling Programme up to that point. The A96 Dualling Programme SEA Post Adoption Statement was published in 2016 ( CH2M (2016) A96 Dualling Programme – Strategic Environmental Assessment – Post Adoption Statement ) .

Due to the requirement for a transparent, evidence-based review of A96 transport options (see Section 1.1), there was a need to undertake a new SEA Screening in 2022, to assist in the determination as to whether an SEA was required. This SEA Screening Report ( Jacobs AECOM (2022) A96 Corridor Review: Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report ) , included as Appendix A of the SEA Scoping Report ( Jacobs AECOM (2023) A96 Corridor Review: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report ) , concluded that a new SEA would be required, to establish the potentially significant environmental effects of the A96 Corridor transport improvements. However, some of the data and methodology from the previous SEA ( Halcrow (2014) A96 Dualling Programme – Strategic Environmental Assessment – Tier 1 Environmental Report ) has been incorporated into this SEA, as described in Chapter 5.

Related Assessments

Where not already covered by assessments for other PPS, the A96 Corridor Review is accompanied by other impact assessments. These comprise this SEA, as described in Section 1.4, a strategic-level Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), and a non-statutory Climate Compatibility Assessment .

The need for various other assessments, including an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) ( A96 Corridor Review, Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) Report (Draft): ) , Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSDA) ( A96 Corridor Review, Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment (FSDA) Report (Draft): ) and Child Rights and Wellbeing Assessment (CRWIA) ( A96 Corridor Review, Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) Report (Draft): ) was determined through consultation on a separate Social and Equalities Impact Assessment Scoping Report. A Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) ( A96 Corridor Review, Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) Report (Draft): ) 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 results of these related impact assessments are summarised in section 7.6 of this report.