Building Sales and Spend

Request Number: FOI/15734

Category: Organisational Information & Performance - Police Properties and Estate

Subject: Building Sales and Spend

Request and Answer: 
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. We further consider that some of the information you seek is exempt by virtue of Section 43(2) of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies. We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office which we have followed in responding to your request. 

Question 1
Can you please list the buildings sold by the force since the beginning of 2020 and the amount of money received by the force for each of them?

Answer
Below is a table of the buildings sold since the beginning of 2020, we are withholding the amount for each building and have provided the total, see below.

Partial Exemption
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:

• states that fact,
• specifies the exemption in question and
• states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.

The exemption, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:

Section 43 (2) – Commercial Interests
Information would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests of any person, including the public authority holding it.

Exemption Explained
Section 43 is a qualified class based exemption and a public interest test is required.

Public Interest Test

Factors Favouring Release
Releasing this information would demonstrate openness, transparency and accountability for the disposal of publicly owned assets. It would reinforce public confidence that public property disposals are conducted fairly and openly.

Factors Favouring Retention
Releasing the amount each building was sold for could affect the PSNI’s position in future and ongoing property negotiations. It could discourage future bidders from engaging with the PSNI and indirectly affect market value of other PSNI properties yet to be sold which could then lead to a financial loss.

The FOIA does not define commercial interests and the ICO Guidance on the application of s43 suggests that “… a commercial interest relates to a person’s ability to participate competitively in a commercial activity i.e. the purchase and sale of goods or services.”

Decision
Release of this information would be likely to harm the process of future buildings sales and prejudice the commercial interests of the PSNI and the potential buyers concerned. While there is general public interest in transparency and demonstrating openness we consider that, in this instance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs disclosure. A release under Freedom of Information is considered a release into the public domain and would therefore be a release in effect to other competitors.

Question 2
List the buildings currently for sale by the force and can you specify whether these are still currently in use or not?

Answer

Question 3
List the new police buildings opened since the beginning of 2020 and state how much they cost to build?

Answer
Kinnegar site was purchased on 28/03/2025 for the development of a new Police College. No buildings have been constructed as yet.

The release of information under the Freedom of Information Act is considered a release into the public domain and not just to the individual requesting the information. Once information is disclosed by FOI there is no control or limits as to who or how information is shared with other individuals, therefore a release under FOI is considered a release to the world in general.