I think the evidence supplied in the S/V/E ticks the box,...

I think the evidence supplied in the S/V/E ticks the box, re-iterated by NOPTA in their approval recommendation.

I don't subscribe to the theory that MMR is a major consideration. BPH/BUY stacked up the specified funds while the application was under consideration so MMR, GBA etc are not factors. I still maintain that the finance element is outside the scope of variation criteria.

I would presume the changes to financial criteria you refer to are off the back of Northern Endeavour saga but are not applied retrospectively as they pertain to acreage purchases only.