Alacrity in planning
On 1 December 2017, the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) reported the case of a planning appeal relating to proposals for the demolition of part of Rauceby Hospital, Quarrington in Lincolnshire (appeal decision Ref: APP/R2520/W/16/3163460) which was refused, in part, because of a lack of ‘alacrity’ on the part of the appellant. Ref http://ihbconline.co.uk/toolbox/guidance_notes/alacrity.html
IHBC suggest that alacrity can be defined as ‘cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness’, and in this case referred to the assessment of the planning inspector that there had been an ‘…unwillingness by the appellant to exhaust an exploration of the alternative options to preserve the site including the possibility of mothballing.’
In making this assessment, the inspector referred to appeal decisions APP/H5390/W3140593 and APP/H5390/Y/15/3140594 regarding the redundant Grade 2* Fulham Town Hall, in which case the Inspector had suggested that ‘…mothballing removes the urgency of accepting the first scheme to come along, which could cause significant harm’ and that this could ‘…throw the buildings a lifeline in the hope of an alternative solution’.
Read more on the IHBC website at: http://ihbconline.co.uk/toolbox/guidance_notes/alacrity.html
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