FOI request detail

Copies of all communications between TfL and GA Group Re: Love Lane SE25

Request ID: FOI-2360-1920
Date published: 23 December 2019

You asked

Earlier in the year, many residents in the SE25 South Norwood area received a letter from Global Acquisitions Group Asset Management LTD claiming that they had granted TFL a license on the full footprint of the land for the ongoing upgrading of the tram line. The claim also states that TFL will require the area to be secure and that a fence will be erected on the boundary of the land. The land in question has been derelict for years until the local community took it upon themselves to turn it into an area where people could spend time and relax, you can read more about it here - https://insidecroydon.com/2019/10/31/mayfair-property-developers-fence-off-woodside-play-space/ I am writing to you to ask for copies of all communications between yourselves and GA Group where you asked them to grant you a license under the freedom of informations act and all communications between both parties in relation to the space by Love Lane. I've also included GA Group AM to allow them an opportunity to supply comms from their side.

We answered

Our Ref:         FOI-2360-1920

Thank you for your request received on 1 November 2019 asking for information about Love Lane, SE25.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

Earlier in the year, many residents in the SE25 South Norwood area received a letter from Global Acquisitions Group Asset Management LTD claiming that they had granted TFL a license on the full footprint of the land for the ongoing upgrading of the tram line. The claim also states that TFL will require the area to be secure and that a fence will be erected on the boundary of the land.

I am writing to you to ask for copies of all communications between yourselves and GA Group where you asked them to grant you a license under the freedom of information act and all communications between both parties in relation to the space by Love Lane.

Our agreement is with the landowners and not Global Acquisitions (GA) Group, therefore we do not hold communication with GA Group asking them to grant us a licence. For your reference please find attached a copy of the licence with the landowners.

Please find attached correspondence between TfL and Mr Nevyan Markov regarding Love Lane. Mr Markov’s emails are signed off “Nevyan Markov for and on behalf of MARKOV’S Signature Limited.” We now understand that Mr Markov represents GA Group. It should be noted that we were not knowingly dealing with GA Group at the time of our correspondence.

In accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply some of the financial information contained within the attached documents as it is subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under Regulation 12(5)(e).

In this instance the exception has been applied as disclosure of the information you have requested would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests as it would prejudice future negotiations with other freeholders when we are negotiating for worksites.

The use of this exception is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to achieve the best value in our negotiations outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.

Additionally, in accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some information has been withheld from the attached documents, as required by regulation 13 of the EIRs. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.

This exception to the right of access to information is an absolute exception and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exception.

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.

Yours sincerely

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

[email protected]

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