Rental figure for land

Summary

A request was made for the annual rental cost of two land parcels at Hairpin Woodland Park leased to the Manx Wildlife Trust. The Department of Infrastructure refused to disclose the information, citing commercial interests exemptions.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the rental cost for land at Hairpin Woodland Park, Ramsey.
• The tenant in question is the Manx Wildlife Trust.
• The Department of Infrastructure determined that disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
• The public interest test concluded that withholding the information outweighed the benefits of disclosure.
• The request was formally closed on 2 February 2026.

Data Disclosed

• 5239269
• 2026-01-19
• 2026-02-03
• section 30
• IM1 2RF
• 01624 686785

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Commercial interests)

Original Request

The cost to Manx Wildlife Trust of annual rental of two parcels of land at Hairpin Woodland Park, Ramsey

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 5239269 2 February 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 19 January 2026, which states:

"The cost to Manx Wildlife Trust of annual rental of two parcels of land at Hairpin Woodland Park, Ramsey"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information is exempt from disclosure under section 30 of the Act as disclosure would
be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of person (including the Department of Infrastructure.)

As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • The public can better understand whether Government or public bodies are achieving value for money when renting or leasing land. • Revealing rental figures allows taxpayers and stakeholders to scrutinise whether land is being rented efficiently, fairly and in line with government policy.

Factors in favour of withholding • Disclosing the rental figure may undermine the Government's or third parties' commercial position in ongoing or future financial negotiations, making it harder to secure best value. • Releasing the rental figure could enable competitors, potential tenants, or commercial operators to alter their pricing approaches, which may drive up costs or weaken the Government's negotiating position. • If the figure forms part of a commercially sensitive agreement, disclosure could breach expectations of confidentiality or reveal pricing strategy.

In taking these factors into account the Department of Infrastructure determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 5239269 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.