It is incredibly heartening to see so much online support for the offer the London Bell Foundry has made to rent the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in order to reinstate its use.

But, it is less heartening that the offer, which is at market value, has so far not been accepted.

The owner may choose to lease it to someone else and hope that Tower Hamlets will allow change of use. Let’s hope they make it clear that they won’t. Or he may just choose to sit on it whilst property values change and the property continues to decay. Or there may be an unexplained fire which would enable redevelopment, as can happen in such situations.

There is no indication that he will accept the offer.