Request ID: FOI-1512-2324 Date published: 01 September 2023
You asked
Hi there.
I write with regards to my rights under the Freedom of Information Act to request the following information:
I understand that London Underground Limited and TFL own property titles, and hold land rights (easements etc) on properties around tube lines and service areas in London.
I write to request the following:
- A list of all properties in the NW1 area postcode over which London Underground Limited or TFL held registered easements as at 2018.
- For each of the above properties, please include all of the surveys and building documentation performed; including but not limited to: surveys, photographs, and site construction works.
We answered
TfL Ref: 1512-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7 August 2023 asking for information about TfL land ownership in NW1.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold some of the information you require. You asked: I write to request the following: - A list of all properties in the NW1 area postcode over which London Underground Limited or TFL held registered easements as at 2018. - For each of the above properties, please include all of the surveys and building documentation performed; including but not limited to: surveys, photographs, and site construction works.
Please find attached a spreadsheet which shows all registered easements readily available on our Property Asset Register that we have a record of within the NW1 postcode area for the date you requested to answer part 1 of your request.
It should be noted that generally we do not hold the information you requested in part 2 of your request for non-TfL assets, even where we may have easements in place. However where we do, unfortunately we are unable to provide any information with regards to the second part of your request as it has been withheld as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 38(1)(b) of the Act.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of TfL employees and members of the general public. To explain further, information that covers building arrangements/internal layout, condition information, how buildings were constructed, photos during construction works and such is considered sensitive information due to the fact that it is possible to identify potential points of structural weakness or access points into operational buildings from such information if it was to be disclosed.
Disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. This information, if disclosed, could potentially be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this detailed level technical asset and site information to cause disruption or harm to our properties and our network. Additionally disclosure of information which could compromise security and safety preparedness on our network would place members of the public and TfL staff at risk by highlighting areas which could be susceptible to being targeted.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. TfL recognises the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to minimise risks to operational resilience, safe operation of the network, the welfare of staff and members of the general public, outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
