Oxford Direct Services Limited

The complainant has requested information from Oxford Direct Services Limited about the construction of specific houses. ODSL provided some information, stated that some was not held, and withheld some under section 43(2) (Commercial interests) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. During the course of investigation, the Commissioner identified that the request sought information that was environmental and therefore invited ODSL to reconsider the withheld information under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 rather than FOIA. ODSL confirmed that it now sought to withhold the information under regulation 12(5)(e) (Confidentiality of commercial or industrial information) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that, besides the information so far disclosed, and the withheld information considered in this decision, no further information is held by ODSL. In respect of the withheld information, the Commissioner has found that ODSL is not entitled to withhold it under regulation 12(5)(e). The Commissioner requires ODSL to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Disclose the withheld information, subject to any personal data being redacted in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.