The value of improved street lighting in rural areas

The aim of this study was to provide robust values of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for street light improvements in rural areas, to inform the determination of applications for PFI credits.  It also considered the relative importance that factors such as personal safety, security of property, road safety, and reduced ‘light pollution’ had on households’ demand for improved street lights.

  Street light improvement is a ‘public good’ for which no market price is charged.  The study employed a widely used stated preference technique, dichotomous choice, to value the benefits of improved street lights.  This was based on a survey of over 1,200 households in villages, market towns, and urban areas in Bedfordshire, North Yorkshire, and Wiltshire. 
The results revealed that, over the sample as a whole, 32% of households were not willing to pay for street light improvements; and of the 63% who were willing to pay for improvements (the remainder were unsure), mean WTP was £12 per household per year.

The research was undertaken by the Centre for Research in Environmental Appraisal and Management at the University of Newcastle [www.ncl.ac.uk/cream/].  A copy of their final report is here.