Citizen values assessment: incorporating citizens’ value judgements in environmental impact assessment

Citizen values assessment (CVA), developed in the Netherlands Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, is a research method that assesses citizens’ judgements about the qualities of their living environment. CVA considers how planned developments may affect environmental qualities from the perspective of people who live in, or otherwise use, the area affected by the project. A case study relating to the proposed redesign of an inner city highway is presented. CVA provides valuable additional information that can be used in environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures, and a specific technique for incorporating social considerations, thereby assisting in the integration of social impact assessment within EIA.