A regular review of property requirements will allow local authorities to appraise the opportunities for, and constraints on, the future management and use of their heritage asset portfolio. If the decision is made that a particular heritage asset is surplus to requirements, this preparatory work will prove invaluable to informing decisions on the most appropriate form of disposal (section 2). The review should consider:

• The feasibility of sustainable alternative uses in light of the local authority’s wider strategic priorities;
• The costs and benefits of adapting the building to a new use, compared with alternative means of accommodating that use; and
• The prospects for disposal.

Useful Tool: The Six Ls of Sustainability

These six points provide guidance for local authorities on when it is and isn't prohibitive to covert a heritage asset for reuse. The six Ls are:

1. Longevity
2. Loose-fit
3. Low carbon
4. Locationally appropriate
5. Liked by occupiers
6. Lovability

The source for this tool is Building Sustainability in the Balance by Sarah Sayce, Anthony Walker and Angus McIntosh, London Estates Gazette, 2004.