VALUATIONS OF NOISE, AIR QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY: EVIDENCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES

The study reported here forms part of a larger EPSRC funded project which aims to enhance strategic transport and land used interaction models. This aspect of the project aims to contribute an increased understanding of the impact of accessibility and environmental quality on households' and firms' location decisions. The paper reports the results of a large scale survey conducted amongst households in Edinburgh which examined attitudes towards current accessibility and environmental conditions and preferences towards improvements in these conditions. The latter was achieved using a Stated Preference exercise which offered choices between different house location characteristics described in terms of air quality, noise levels, car journey times, bus journey times, and local council tax. The results are reported of a smaller scale survey of firms in Edinburgh which conducted a Stated Preference exercise based on noise levels, air quality, accessibility to the offices and business rates. Given the paucity of evidence on the monetary valuation of environmental factors in Great Britain, this paper focuses on the monetary valuations of noise and air quality. These are presented both as proportionate changes to households' situations and based on measured levels of air quality and noise. Valuations of equivalent improvements and deteriorations in environmental quality and accessibility are distinguished. Variations in valuation across various socio-economic categories and household types of the sample are examined and the results from the Stated Preference exercise are compared with those obtained using a direct willingness to pay approach. The results will be used to enhance strategic transport and land use interaction models developed by the project. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 898930.