Buildings Purchased and Demolished

Summary

The request asked for the number and cost of buildings purchased and demolished by Manx Utilities Authority since October 2011. The authority disclosed that 11 properties were purchased for £1.66 million and 6 were demolished for £87,465, though individual demolition costs were withheld to protect commercial interests.

Key Facts

• 11 properties were purchased since October 2011 at a total cost of £1,660,000.
• 6 properties were demolished since October 2011 at a total cost of £87,465.
• Nine of the purchased properties had nominal costs of £1 or less as they were part of larger transactions.
• Specific high-value purchases included Cairns Site Laxey (£610,000) and Glenfaba House Patrick (£600,000).
• Individual costs for demolished properties were withheld under FOI Act section 30(2)(b) to protect commercial interests.

Data Disclosed

• 11
• £1,660,000
• 6
• £87,465
• October 2011
• £610,000
• £600,000
• £450,000
• £1
• 2019-10-07
• 2019-09-14

Exemptions Cited

• FOI Act section 30(2)(b) Economy and commercial interests

Original Request

How many buildings have been a) purchased and b) demolished and at what cost since October 2011.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 958465 7 October 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 13 September 2019, which was subsequently queried and clarified to state:

"How many buildings have been a) purchased and b) demolished and at what cost since October 2011."

Our response to your request is as follows: a) Properties purchased = 11 Costs for properties purchased: £1,660,000 Property purchase, ownership and prices are a matter of public record; details of which are available at the Land Registry.
However we can confirm the following: 2017 Cairns Site Laxey £610,000, Glenfaba House Patrick £600,000; 2014 Cooil Smithy Units (x2) Braddan £450,000.
The remaining 9 properties had nominal purchases costs (£1 or less each) as they were parts of larger transactions or developments: 2019 Royal Park Substation Ramsey, Sycamores Substation Balthane; 2018 Land to the rear of Eastfield Mansion House Douglas; 2015 Grand Island Substation Ramsey, Ballakilley Substation Port Erin; 2014 Reayrt Ny Cronk Substation Peel; 2011 Crossag Close Substation Ballasalla. NB: These details exclude any land purchased upon which we subsequently constructed a structure (i.e. Balladoole Sewage Treatment Works), and any premises which have been leased. b) Properties demolished = 6 Costs for demolished properties: £87,465 2019 Whitehoe Cottages Douglas, Ivy Cottages Douglas, Glenfaba House Patrick, Buildings at Union Mills Sewage Treatment Works; 2017 Vollan Pump Station; 2013 Ballacannell Barn Scards **Indicated/estimated costs only as part of larger projects. If Manx Utilities were requested to supply the individual costs for each demolished property, we would be obliged to consider the application of an exemption under the FOI Act section 30(2)(b) Economy and commercial interests. This affords protection against potential adverse effect or impact on the commercial and

financial interests of Manx Utilities and its contractors. Where disclosure would harm or prejudice the competitive tendering process for individual projects or works.

Please quote the reference number 958465 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.

Yours sincerely