Bus Shelter Costs

Summary

A request was made for detailed cost breakdowns of bus shelters constructed or replaced by the Department of Infrastructure between September 2021 and March 2026. The authority responded with a list of locations and work types but provided costs only in broad ranges to protect commercial sensitivity, rather than exact figures.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure provided cost data for bus shelter works from September 2021 to March 2026.
• Exact costs were withheld and replaced with broad monetary ranges to protect commercial sensitivity.
• Work types included new installations, RTC rebuilds, refurbishments, and relocations.
• Some projects were completed by DoI staff while others were contracted to external suppliers.
• Certain works, such as the Douglas Promenade installations, were included in a capital contract with no separate cost listed.

Data Disclosed

• £1,000–£10,000
• £8,000–£12,000
• £0–£4,000
• £200–£2,000
• £2,000–£4,000
• £100–£650
• £10,000–£15,000
• £500–£1,000
• 1 September 2021
• 2026-03-13
• 2026-02-10
• case_id: 5291101

Exemptions Cited

• Commercial sensitivity

Original Request

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 for information relating to the cost of bus shelters constructed, installed, or replaced by the Department of Infrastructure. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information: 1. The total cost of the bus shelter referenced in the Facebook post published by Onchan MHK Callister at the following URL: https://www.facebook.com/Onchan.MHK/posts/pfbid02FgZv9deQnjCnVN8ycu8wJVd1qh8RmRYtpj7C1JNxrZ9SwgA2n1UFgc1BP3qyd4THl Please provide a complete breakdown of costs including, but not limited to, design, materials, construction, installation, and any associated infrastructure works. 2. The total amount spent on all other bus shelters (including new construction, replacements, and substantial refurbishments) between 1 September 2021 and the date of this request. For this information, please provide an itemised list including: a. The specific location of each bus shelter (including street address or nearest landmark) b. The total cost for each shelter c. A breakdown of costs where available (design, materials, construction, installation) d. The date of completion or installation e. Whether the work constituted a new build, replacement, or refurbishment f. Whether the work was conducted by DoI staff, or, if the work was completed by external supplier(s), the name of the supplier(s) If it is not possible to provide all of the information requested due to the cost of compliance exceeding the appropriate limit, I would be grateful if you could provide as much information as possible within the cost limit. In such circumstances, I would also appreciate your advice regarding how I could refine my request to bring it within the cost limit. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please direct me to it, along with details of where it can be accessed.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

FOI Response – Bus Shelter Installations and Repairs (Sept 2021 – Mar 2026) All costs are presented in broad brackets to protect commercial sensitivity. Shelter structures: £1,000–£10,000; Large shelters: £8,000–£12,000; Groundworks: £0–£4,000; Lifting/relocation: £200–£2,000; RTC rebuilds: £2,000–£4,000; Repairs: £100–£650; Programme maintenance totals: £10,000–£15,000. Location Date Type Supplier Cost Range Notes Douglas Promenade (x8) 2022 Install – existing Prom Scheme Nil Included in capital contract Loch Prom Stand F 2022 New large shelter External £8k–£12k Assembled on site Sefton Hotel 2022 Install – Trueform Prom Scheme £5k–£10k Included in scheme Hawthorn 2022 RTC rebuild External £2k–£4k Collision damage Main Rd Anagh Coar 2022 Refurbishment External £1k–£3k Kassel + lift Oak Road 2022 Full install External £4k–£8k Kassel + lifting Hailwood Avenue 2022 Refurbishment External £1k–£3k Kassel works Janet’s Corner 2022 Refurbishment External £1k–£3k Kassel Ballasalla (N/S) 2022 Refurbishment External £2k–£5k Multiple lifts Ballachrink/York 2023 RTC rebuild External £2k–£4k Components Opp Hampton Farm 2023 Relocation DoI £1k–£3k Lift incl Johnny Watterson 2023 Relocation DoI £3k–£6k Lift incl Esplanade seaside 2023 Refurbishment DoI £1k–£3k Lift incl Lord Street C 2024 Install DoI Nil ExIRamsey MER Alder Road 2024 Refurbishment DoI £1k–£3k Kassel The Forge 2024 RTC rebuild External £2k–£4k Partial demolition Port Jack 2025 Full install External £5k–£8k Minor works South Drive 2025 Full install Properties £5k–£8k Civils Nobles Hospital 2025 Install Properties £3k–£5k Seating Royal Avenue 2026 Full install External £5k–£12k Civils + lifts Work Type Date Cost Range Notes Powder coating 2021–2025 £10k–£15k Programme Solar lighting 2024 £500–£1,000 Various Prom cantilevers 2022 £1k–£3k Refurbishment Minor repairs Ongoing £100–£650 Routine

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: 5291101 11 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 10 February 2026, which states:

"I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 for information relating to the cost of bus shelters constructed, installed, or replaced by the Department of Infrastructure.

I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

1. The total cost of the bus shelter referenced in the Facebook post published by Onchan MHK Callister at the following URL: https://www.facebook.com/Onchan.MHK/posts/pfbid02FgZv9deQnjCnVN8ycu8wJVd1q h8RmRYtpj7C1JNxrZ9SwgA2n1UFgc1BP3qyd4THl

Please provide a complete breakdown of costs including, but not limited to, design, materials, construction, installation, and any associated infrastructure works.

1. The total amount spent on all other bus shelters (including new construction, replacements, and substantial refurbishments) between 1 September 2021 and the date of this request.

For this information, please provide an itemised list including:

a. The specific location of each bus shelter (including street address or nearest landmark)

b. The total cost for each shelter

c. A breakdown of costs where available (design, materials, construction, installation)

d. The date of completion or installation

e. Whether the work constituted a new build, replacement, or refurbishment

f. Whether the work was conducted by DoI staff, or, if the work was completed by external supplier(s), the name of the supplier(s)

If it is not possible to provide all of the information requested due to the cost of

compliance exceeding the appropriate limit, I would be grateful if you could provide as much information as possible within the cost limit. In such circumstances, I would also appreciate your advice regarding how I could refine my request to bring it within the cost limit.

If any of this information is already in the public domain, please direct me to it, along with details of where it can be accessed."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have enclosed copies of the information that is being released to you.

Please quote the reference number 5291101 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.

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: 5291101 12 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 10 February 2026, which states:

"I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 for information relating to the cost of bus shelters constructed, installed, or replaced by the Department of Infrastructure.

I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

1. The total cost of the bus shelter referenced in the Facebook post published by Onchan MHK Callister at the following URL: https://www.facebook.com/Onchan.MHK/posts/pfbid02FgZv9deQnjCnVN8ycu8wJVd1q h8RmRYtpj7C1JNxrZ9SwgA2n1UFgc1BP3qyd4THl

Please provide a complete breakdown of costs including, but not limited to, design, materials, construction, installation, and any associated infrastructure works.

1. The total amount spent on all other bus shelters (including new construction, replacements, and substantial refurbishments) between 1 September 2021 and the date of this request.

For this information, please provide an itemised list including:

a. The specific location of each bus shelter (including street address or nearest landmark)

b. The total cost for each shelter

c. A breakdown of costs where available (design, materials, construction, installation)

d. The date of completion or installation

e. Whether the work constituted a new build, replacement, or refurbishment

f. Whether the work was conducted by DoI staff, or, if the work was completed by external supplier(s), the name of the supplier(s)

If it is not possible to provide all of the information requested due to the cost of compliance exceeding the appropriate limit, I would be grateful if you could provide as much information as possible within the cost limit. In such circumstances, I would also appreciate your advice regarding how I could refine my request to bring it within the cost limit.

If any of this information is already in the public domain, please direct me to it, along with details of where it can be accessed."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have enclosed Appendix 1.

1. Total Cost for the shelter was £8835.00

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.) Disclosing granular pricing (including design, materials, construction, installation and infrastructure works) would reveal suppliers' pricing structures and margins and would signal the Department's price tolerance, enabling competitors to undercut future bids, weakening the Department's negotiating position, and risking price anchoring in the market. This would be likely to reduce competitive tension and harm value for money in future procurements. 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 • Transparency & accountability for public spending on municipal infrastructure.
• Informed public debate about shelter provision, siting and aesthetics.
• Reassurance on value for money and departmental stewardship of funds.

Factors in favour of withholding • Protecting effective competition in future procurements by avoiding disclosure of granular supplier pricing and margins.
• Safeguarding the Department's negotiating position and taxpayer value for money in recurring works (new installs, replacements, refurbishments, civils).
• Fairness to suppliers who reasonably expect commercially sensitive breakdowns to be kept confidential outside the necessary contracting context.
• Risk of price anchoring/market signalling, potentially increasing costs or narrowing the supplier pool.

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.

1. Total expenditure on bus shelters since 1 September 2021: £114,323.83. This figure includes shelter units, associated groundworks, lifts/handling, carriage

and replacement components, RTC rebuilds, general repairs, programme powder-coating of seats/components, and solar lighting. Within this total, installations/relocations/rebuilds account for £99,592.33, and repairs/programme items account for £14,731.50.

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.) Disclosing granular pricing (including design, materials, construction, installation and infrastructure works) would reveal suppliers' pricing structures and margins and would signal the Department's price tolerance, enabling competitors to undercut future bids, weakening the Department's negotiating position, and risking price anchoring in the market. This would be likely to reduce competitive tension and harm value for money in future procurements. 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 • Transparency & accountability for public spending on municipal infrastructure.
• Informed public debate about shelter provision, siting and aesthetics.
• Reassurance on value for money and departmental stewardship of funds.

Factors in favour of withholding • Protecting effective competition in future procurements by avoiding disclosure of granular supplier pricing and margins.
• Safeguarding the Department's negotiating position and taxpayer value for money in recurring works (new installs, replacements, refurbishments, civils).
• Fairness to suppliers who reasonably expect commercially sensitive breakdowns to be kept confidential outside the necessary contracting context.
• Risk of price anchoring/market signalling, potentially increasing costs or narrowing the supplier pool.

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

a) to f) Please see Appendix 1

Please quote the reference number 5291101 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.