Scottish Government A9 dualling move paves way for advance compensation payments – Scottish Business News

SCOTTISH Ministers have signalled their intention to purchase four more sections for the A9 dualling project – opening the way for compensation payments by property owners/occupiers and tenants affected by one of Scotland’s biggest transport projects.

The Ministers made ‘general vesting declarations’ at the start of April, affecting the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig, Pitlochry to Killiecrankie, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore sections. Galbraith is already representing a large number of owners and tenants impacted by these sections of road, which equate to just over 35km in length.

Advance claims for compensation may be submitted by owner/occupiers and tenants with land taken for the schemes. The claims can include the value of land taken, servitude rights acquired, severance, injurious affection, disturbance and fees.

Subject to receiving a valid claim for an advance payment, the acquiring authority must make an advance payment of 90% of the amount of either any agreed compensation, or the authority’s estimate of the amount due.

Mike Reid, Head of Energy and Infrastructure at Galbraith, said: “It’s important to note that although eligible claimants can receive 90% of the compensation in advance, this settlement doesn’t bind them to agreement of any final claim. It is difficult for anyone to know the impact of the scheme on any property until the completion of the works so final claims are agreed at that stage.”

It is important that prospective claimants should keep a record of any losses, including quotes, estimates and receipts which can be included in the final claim. This should include a record of claimants’ time involved with the scheme as that can easily be forgotten over a long construction period and evidence of time incurred helps to justify any claim.

The A9 programme upgrades 80 miles of road from single to dual carriageways to boost growth through improved safety and quicker journey times, as well as better links to pedestrian, cycling and public transport facilities. Inverness is the only UK city without access to dual carriageway.

Households, businesses, farms and estates along the A9 dualling scheme are being contacted by the Scottish Ministers through Transport Scotland about the acquisition of land and buildings to advance the £3.7 billion scheme.

Work on the infrastructure project has picked up pace in recent months. A ‘contract notice’ for the construction of the £155 million section, from Tay Crossing to Ballinluig, was published on 24 May, formally commencing procurement of the fourth section.

This is a big step forward following the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Mairi McAllan, in December 2023, updating Parliament on the delivery plans for the dualling works. The plan anticipates completion of the entire A9 dualling programme between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.

The Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project is the first of the three in the south section that will be progressed by means of individual design and build contracts, due to be awarded by Transport Scotland in summer 2025. Further north, it was announced earlier this week that Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd are expected to be awarded a contract worth nearly £185 million to upgrade the Tomatin to Moy section after a significant delay.

The independent property consultancy Galbraith has been working with claimants along the route since the project began in 2015 and has guided many residents and owners through the CPO process.