Public local inquiry launched over objections to proposed £478m A9 dualling section

A public local inquiry has been launched due to the number of objections to the proposed £478m Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the £3.7bn A9 dualling programme.

Objections have been submitted to four separate planning applications relating to the project and have not been withdrawn.

Transport Scotland told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it is now working to “properly consider all matters raised by objectors and to resolve these where possible”.

On March 23, the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Department (DPEA) was asked to consider four applications connected to the A9 dualling project:

the A9 Trunk Road (Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing) (Trunking) Order
the A9 Trunk Road (Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing) (Side Roads) Order
the A9 Trunk Road (Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing) Compulsory Purchase Order
the A9 Trunk Road (Pass Of Birnam To Tay Crossing) (Extinguishment Of Public Right Of Way) Order.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Draft Orders and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling Programme were published for public consultation on May 30, 2025. Transport Scotland has been working to properly consider all matters raised by objectors and to resolve these where possible.

“Given the number of objections received a public local inquiry will be required to consider objections received and not withdrawn.

“Construction of the proposed scheme can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process.”

The DPEA will appoint an independent reporter who will oversee the inquiry process.

A Scottish Government spokesperson for the DPEA said: “The applications have been referred to the Scottish Government under the Roads Scotland Act given that objections have been received and not withdrawn. Information on the cases is being compiled and will be published on the site in due course.”

Draft Orders and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the five-mile Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project went out to consultation on May 30, 2025 and the statutory consultation period closed on July 25, 2025.

In October 2025, Transport Scotland said it was considering all the representations received and working with objectors to try and resolve them before a decision was taken on whether there would need to be a public local inquiry.

Due to the number of objections not being withdrawn, a public local inquiry is needed.

The proposed Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section was estimated to cost £478m at April 2023 prices. It forms part of the Scottish Government’s £3.7bn A9 dualling project to fully dual the route between Perth and Inverness.

The draft orders for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section published last May included: a replacement station car park on the other side of A9 from Dunkeld and Birnam Railway Station; an underbridge at the Dalguise junction and a new roundabout at Dunkeld which would connect the A9, A923, A822 (Old Military Road) and the unclassified road to Inver.