In financially appraising re-use options, comparative costs between adaptation and alternative provision should be based on the whole-life costs of the alternatives, including the cost of securing the future of the heritage asset concerned. Running costs need careful assessment. It should not be assumed that heritage assets are more expensive to run than modern buildings. In assessing the financial prospects for disposal, account should be taken of the cost of maintaining the building prior to disposal, and the extent to which the sale value may be depressed by restrictions on future use, or by costs of repair or adaptation which a purchaser would have to meet. This will require some exploration of the planning/conservation framework before the disposal decision is taken.