Copies of Planning Certificates

Summary

The requester asked for planning certificates for Sandygate House and Garage from 2012 onwards, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to send copies directly, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via their website or public counter.

Key Facts

• The request was refused under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act because the data is already reasonably accessible to the public.
• The specific building control application for Sandygate House was received on 5th June 2015.
• A completion certificate for the proposed replacement dwelling and garage was issued on 15th August 2017.
• The authority directed the requester to the government open data website or the Planning and Building Control public counter at Murray House for the documents.
• The request was formally closed on 27th October 2021.

Data Disclosed

• 2042037
• 1965861
• 2012
• 5th June 2015
• 15/07213/DOM
• 1/1/17
• 31/12/17
• 15/08/2017
• IM7 3AF
• 2021-10-18
• 2021-10-27

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information already reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Copies of Planning Certificates with reference to Sandygate House and Garage and ancillaries (i.e. storage areas) from 2012 onwards. In particular the final completion certificate for the erection of the house and garage. NB. I have applied to the cabinet office but they say they do not hold the information and have given me the following address: Thie Slieau Whallian, Head office, Foxdale Road, St Johns, IM43AS. Their ref: 1965861

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 2042037 27th October 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 18th October 2021 and which states:

"Copies of Planning Certificates with reference to Sandygate House and Garage and ancillaries (i.e. storage areas) from 2012 onwards. In particular the final completion certificate for the erection of the house and garage. NB. I have applied to the cabinet office by they say they do not hold the information and have given me the following address: Thie Slieau Whallian, Head office, Foxdale Road, St Johns, IM43AS. Their ref: 1965861"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. The information that you have requested is available from the website https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/government/open-data/energy-and- environment/building-control-data/ or from the Planning and Building Control public counter located at Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man. Further information While the information you have requested is publically available to you I have outlined the information below to assist you. The application for Sandygate House was received on the 5th June 2015 – reference 15/07213/DOM. BC – Completion Certificates issued 1/1/17 – 31/12/17 (extract below) BC Ref Site Address Works Completion Certificate issued 15/07213/DOM Sandygate House, Clenagh Road, Sandygate, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM7 3AF Proposed replacement dwelling and garage including installation of solid fuel stove. 15/08/2017

Please quote the reference number 2042037 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.