London Borough of Enfield

This case concerns the proposal to redevelop the Chase Farm Hospital site and specifically the financial viability assessment (FVA) produced to support the planning application. Only a redacted version of the FVA was published during the planning process and therefore the complainant has requested a complete copy. The London Borough of Enfield (the Council), which is the planning authority, refused the complainant’s request on the basis that the withheld information engaged the exception to disclosure set out at regulation 12(5)(e) (confidentiality of commercial or industrial information) of the EIR and the public interest favoured maintaining the exception. During the Commissioner’s investigation, the Council decided it could release some items of information in the FVA that had previously been withheld but maintained its reliance on regulation 12(5)(e) of the EIR in respect of the remainder. The Commissioner has found regulation 12(5)(e) is engaged in respect of the remaining withheld items in the FVA and decided that in all the circumstances the public interest favours withholding the disputed information.