IT might be thought by reasonable people that there would be some effort made to retain old buildings that lie in a conservation area.

It might also be thought by reasonable people that where such buildings are truly redundant or incapable of renovation that they would be replaced by a building that was in keeping with the general look of the area. Well, if reasonable people thought that then they would be reckoning without Test Valley’s Planning Department.

In his letter (Andover Advertiser 11 August) Bryan Beggs makes it clear that although the Andover Charity Trustees wished to replace the 1869 Acre almshouses with a Georgian style building, the planning department insisted otherwise and considered such a building “was undesirable and that something distinctly modern was required”. As a fellow historian Bryan may well have been somewhat bemused by this bizarre attitude. These almshouses lie within the environs of a conservation area that is characterised by Georgian buildings, so why would planners want to insist on something uncompromisingly modern?

Georgian design remains the best in the world. At its greatest it borrows from both Classical and Italian Renaissance architecture and comprises perfect symmetry. Away from the grand manner, more simple examples incorporate the period in an under- stated elegance like those we see in Andover. These buildings age well. They mature gracefully and they are always a pleasure to the eye. And where other Georgian buildings pre-dominate, similarly styled, new constructions blend in well.

In contrast, modern buildings trying to strike a trendy look do not age well, nor do they mature gracefully. They are sleek and shiny to begin with and then within 30 or 40 years they look dated, dingy and decayed. Look around Andover and you will see what I mean.

Have no doubt the Acre almshouses will come down. Their death warrant has already been signed. Test Valley’s planning department has already specified what sort of building should replace them and the planning committee that rubber stamps the process is hardly likely to go against its own department.

Even if a thousand objections were received, everything has already been sewn up. It makes one despair.

David Borrett, Lansdowne Avenue, Andover.