Using contingent valuation to enhance public participation in local planning

This paper examines the adequacy of currency practices in public participation exercises from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. It is concluded that the procedures adopted by planners are largely ineffective in allowing the general public to have a say in the shaping of their local environment. A suggestion is made for the improvement of these procedures based on the use of the contingent valuation method. In an attempt to minimize the cost of implementing this suggestion, some empirical work incorporating a transferable demand function is reported. The results of this initial fieldwork show some promising signs for future research.