Crossword Genius

Level an area for building? It depends (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parasite

'it depends' is the definition.
(creature depending on another for life)

'level an area for building?' is the wordplay.
'level' becomes 'par' (I have seen 'Accepted level ' mean 'par' so perhaps 'level' could also mean 'par').
'an' becomes 'a'.
'area for building?' becomes 'site' (a building site).
'par'+'a'+'site'='PARASITE'

(Other definitions for parasite that I've seen before include "it sucks blood" , "Animal or plant that lives off another" , "Self-interested hanger-on" , "Animal that feeds off another" , "Creature that lives off others" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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