ownership of silverdale cafe and new accommodations.

Summary

The request sought ownership details and annual lease income for the Silverdale Café and accommodations. The authority confirmed government ownership but withheld income figures citing commercial interest exemptions.

Key Facts

• The Silverdale Café and associated accommodation buildings are owned by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
• Lease arrangements for these properties are managed by the Department of Infrastructure.
• Annual income details were withheld under Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The exemption was applied because disclosure would likely prejudice the government's commercial negotiating position.
• The public interest test concluded that factors favoring withholding outweighed those favoring disclosure.

Data Disclosed

• 5344897
• 2026-03-02
• 2026-03-11
• Section 30
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 – Economy and commercial interests

Original Request

I would like to know if the silverdale cafe and new accommodations are privately owned or leased from the Isle of Man Government. If it is leased then what is the annual income of these buildings for the government. Thank You.

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: 5344897 11 March 2026

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 2 March 2026, which states:

"I would like to know if the silverdale cafe and new accommodations are privately owned or leased from the Isle of Man Government. If it is leased then what is the annual income of these buildings for the government. Thank You."

Our response to your request is as follows:

I would like to know if the silverdale cafe and new accommodations are privately owned or leased from the Isle of Man Government.

The Silverdale Café and the associated accommodation buildings are owned by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. However, the lease arrangements for these properties are managed by the Department of Infrastructure.

If it is leased then what is the annual income of these buildings for the government.

Section 30 – Economy and commercial interests 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 the Department. This is because the Department are satisfied that disclosure of this information would be likely to weaken the Departments negotiating position and its ability to achieve best value for money for future negotiations.

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 • There is a legitimate public interest in understanding how government owned land and buildings are managed.
• Disclosure of lease income could help demonstrate that public assets are being managed effectively and generating appropriate income.

• Providing information about government property arrangements can enhance trust in the fairness and openness of government processes.

Factors in favour of withholding • Releasing lease terms or income details could prejudice the commercial position of the current operator or the Government in any future negotiations.
• Disclosure could weaken the Government's bargaining position in future leasing or procurement exercises by revealing commercially sensitive financial information.
• The operator of the café and accommodation may have provided information to the Government with a reasonable expectation of confidentiality.
• Competitors could gain insight into the operator's business model or financial commitments, potentially distorting the local market.
• Releasing values damage undermine trust in the Government as a contracting party.

In taking these factors into account the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 5344897 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.