Our Ref:         FOI-1820-2021

Thank you for your request received on 10 December 2020 asking for information about Crossrail 2.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. We hold some of the information you require.

Could you please supply a copy of the latest strategic outline business case for C2?

In accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply the requested information as it is subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under Regulation 12(4)(b) as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would place an unreasonable burden on us at this time. 

The Strategic Operating Business Case (SOBC) incorporates several documents that each present the viability of the scheme in terms of various different factors. These are split as follows:
• Commercial Case
• Financial Case
• Strategic Case
• Economic Case
• Management Case

The documents that make up the SOBC exceed 1,000 pages which we would need to review in order to consider whether any exceptions apply to the information contained.

Having previously looked through the documents it is clear that they provide a significant level of detail on various aspects of the Crossrail 2 scheme and, as can be determined by the titles of the SOBC sections, relate heavily to the viability of the scheme from a financial point of view. It is unavoidable that almost every page of these documents would need to be considered in significant detail by the relevant subject matter experts and, in many cases, even a line by line review of the material to consider whether it would be suitable to disclose. Further, the material would also need to be considered by the Department for Transport as an interested party to ascertain whether they had any additional concerns from disclosure which would need to be taken into account.

A very conservative estimate of the processing time, calculated at an average of ten minutes reviewing per page, would be over 140 hours. Given that processing this request would require very in-depth consideration of over 1,000 pages of highly detailed material, some of which is very likely to lead to an application of an exception, we believe that the exception set out in Regulation 12(4)(b) is engaged.

We have previously set out in some detail the types of concerns we have from disclosure of financial and commercial information relating to Crossrail 2 which can be seen in decision notice FER0755263 (https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2019/2614355/fer0755263.pdf) which upheld an exception we previously relied on. Processing this request would present a significant disruption to our staff, as well as be likely to lead to a significant level of repetition of these same arguments on a more micromanaged level, given that the exception would be likely for varying reasons depending on the specific information presented in various ways across the documentation. Further there may indeed be some elements of the documentation that would be suitable for disclosure but this would similarly only be determined by a significant process of manually reviewing the material.

The application of this exception is subject to the public interest test and we are aware of the background to this request and your personal concerns regarding the project. The Crossrail 2 project is a significant project for the people of London and surrounding areas. It would support the regeneration and development of up to 200,000 new homes across London and the South East as well as support 60,000 new jobs across the UK supply chain while under construction and 200,000 jobs across London and the South East once operational. Clearly on any major infrastructure project such as this there is an inherent public interest in transparency and allowing scrutiny of decision making, where appropriate.

However, it is also clear that processing this request would require a significant diversion of resource and place a clear distraction from current operations. Therefore, on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.

Could you also provide the following information:-
• What decisions have been made about building a new C2 station at either Tooting Broadway or Balham?
• What decision has been made about building a new C2 station at Kings Road Chelsea?
• What decision has been made about realigning a section of route around Euston? A recent press report stated that C2 won't go through Euston. Does this mean that the proposed Euston St Pancras station won't now be built?
• What decision has been made about a potential future Eastern branch running to Hackney Central and beyond?
• What decision has been made about the route of a link from Severn Sisters to Alexandra Place? - will this go via Turnpike Lane or Wood Green?

We can confirm that no decision has yet been made with regard to any of the above.

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]