4th June 2014, 04:01 PM
most decisions to try to develop are made prior to any attempt to understand the heritage impact. developers buy a statement to support their application (or they wouldnt submit it). often they are returned with the explicit request to tone down or tone up certain aspects and we professionals have to decide if we can live with their request. if we cant, and it happens a lot, they go elsewhere and try again. ulimately we provide a subjective argument as it is quite possible for two or more professionals to have differing opinions. statements are littered with subjective comments regarding liklihood and significance to the point where i have been amazed at how certain consultants will automatically presume that the likelyhood of unknown undesignated assetts being present on a given area is 'low' on the basis that nothing is already known in that area! makes me weep.
If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers