London Borough of Tower Hamlets

With regard to planning applications submitted to develop the Bishopsgate Goodsyard area, the complainant requested copies of (i) any financial viability assessment(s) produced in connection with the plans and (ii) any reports prepared to assess or verify the financial viability assessment. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets (the Council) has disclosed a copy of the developer’s financial viability assessment (FVA) subject to extensive redactions made under regulation 12(5)(e) and 12(5)(f) of the EIR. The Council also confirmed that at the time of the request it did not hold any corresponding report that tested the assumptions made in the financial viability assessment. The Commissioner’s determination is that, with regard to request (i), the FVA engages regulation 12(5)(e) of the EIR and the public interest in disclosure is outweighed by the public in favour of maintaining the exception. In relation to request (ii) the Commissioner has found that the Council did not hold the information specified at the time of the request. He does not therefore require the Council to take any steps as a result of this notice.