A9 Trunk Road, Killiecrankie to Glen Garry - Improving and Constructing New Lengths

NOTICE OF DECISION
A9 Dualling Programme: Killiec rankie to Glen Garry Project
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PARAGRAPH 7 OF SCHEDULE 1 OF THE ROADS (SCOTLAND) ACT 1984

The Scottish Ministers give notice that they have decided to proceed with the project to dual the A9 between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry.

The Scottish Ministers have complied with paragraph 7(1A) of schedule 1 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 by taking into consideration–

a) the Environmental Statement (ES) available at https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/draft-orders-and-environmentalstatement- killiecrankie-to-glen-garry-a9-dualling/, and

b) the opinions on that report and the project which were expressed in writing by: Historic Environment Scotland (HES); Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA); NatureScot; Killiecrankie and Fincastle Community Council; Scottish Battlefields Trust; 1745 Association; Historic Environment Scotland; Cairngorms National Park Authority; SSE plc and SSE Generation Limited; Network Rail Infrastructure Limited; Perth and Kinross Council; Scottish Water; opinions expressed in writing by other persons; and

The Scottish Ministers have taken into consideration (a) and (b) by –

• Reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reported in the ES and residual effects as set out in the ES Chapter 22 (Summary of Significant Residual Effects) This concluded significant residual impacts for People and Communities – Community and Private Assets (adverse and beneficial); People and Communities – All Travellers (adverse and beneficial); Geology, Soils, Contaminated Land and Groundwater (adverse); Road Drainage and the Water Environment (adverse and beneficial), Landscape (adverse); Visual (adverse), Cultural Heritage (adverse), Noise & Vibration (adverse) and Cumulative Impacts (adverse).

• Reviewing the required mitigation and monitoring measures as set out in the ES Chapter 21 (Schedule of Environmental Commitments) and ensuring that the agreed commitments will form contractual requirements on the Contractor (or Transport Scotland where applicable).

• Reviewing the required mitigation and monitoring measures as specified in the Schedule of Environmental Commitments as presented in Chapter 21 of the ES. The mitigation and monitoring measures will be fully implemented and incorporated into the contract documents that will be developed to construct and operate the proposed Project.

• Reviewing the opinions from the consultation bodies and other Statutory representations detailed in point (b), acknowledging opinions and incorporating further requirements into Statutory Undertakings, that will, where appropriate be incorporated into the contract documents that will be developed to construct and operate the proposed Project. A summary of responses received following publication of the ES, and how these have been considered, is provided in Section 5 and 9 of the decision.

• Reviewing other environmental information such as the Assessment carried out under The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994, as amended, which concluded that the proposed Project would not result in an adverse effect on site integrity on the River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows SAC.

Reasons for Decision

The Scottish Ministers have decided to proceed with the proposed Project for the following reasons –

• The proposed Project will provide a number of benefits including improved journey times and reliability, economic growth, improved connectivity and reduced rates and severity of accidents on the A9.

• The proposed Project is integral to delivering the overall benefits of the A9 Dualling Programme and without the proposed Project the benefits described above would not be fully realised and the Dualling Programme diminished.

• An ES was consulted on and published for the Project. There are no outstanding objections.

• There are no remaining objections from statutory consultees, namely NatureScot, SEPA, Historic Environment Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council and Cairngorms National Park Authority.

• The proposed Project complies with Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and has concluded that the proposed Project will not result in an adverse effect on site integrity on the River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Tulach Hill and Glen Fender Meadows SAC.

• The mitigation and monitoring measures committed to in the ES and the Statutory Undertakings will be fully implemented and incorporated into construction and operational contracts, where appropriate.

A full copy of the Scottish Ministers’ decision is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-minister-sdecision- letter-and-reporters-report-november-2022-killiecrankieto- glen-garry-a9-dualling/.

M. CANNON

A member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers Transport Scotland, Major Projects, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow G1 2AD

10 October 2024

ROADS (SCOTLAND) ACT 1984
THE A9 TRUNK ROAD (KILLIECRANKIE TO GLEN GARRY ) (TRUNKING) ORDER 2024
THE A9 TRUNK ROAD (KILLIECRANKIE TO GLEN GARRY ) (SIDE ROADS) ORDER 2024

The Scottish Ministers hereby give notice that they have made the following Orders in connection with improving and constructing new lengths of the M9/A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry in the County of Perthshire:- a. The A9 Trunk Road (Killiecrankie to Glen Garry) (Trunking) Order 2024 under sections 5(2) and 75(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984; and b. The A9 Trunk Road (Killiecrankie to Glen Garry) (Side Roads) Order 2024 under sections 12(1) and (5) and 70(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

The general effect of the Orders is to construct new lengths of trunk road and slip roads; construct and improve associated junctions and side roads; form new and improved connections in relation to the trunk road; stop up of various existing roads and private accesses; provide certain new means of access; and construct bridges over navigable waters, all between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry in the County of Perthshire.

The Orders will become operative on 18 October 2024.

A copy of the Orders and of the relevant plans referred to therein may be inspected, free of charge, from 18 October 2024 to 29 November 2024 during normal opening hours at the following locations:- National Trust for Scotland Visitor Centre, Killiecrankie, Pitlochry, PH16 5LG

Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD

A copy of the Orders and associated Plans and this Notice can be viewed on the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-toinverness/a9-killiecrankie-to-glen-garry/

Any person aggrieved and who desires to question the validity of the Orders on the grounds that they are not within the powers of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 or that any requirement of that Act has not been complied with, may within 6 weeks of 18 October 2024 make an application to the Court of Session for the suspension of, or the quashing of, the Orders or any provision contained
therein.

L. SHACKMAN
A member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers Transport Scotland, Major Projects, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow G1 2AD

25 September 2024