included a number of case studies of recent Government land disposals and the information they had been able to collect. Both reports recommended that Government undertake a review into how such information could be made more transparent. Cabinet Office (Government Property Unit) has led a cross-Government review. The approach has assumed a default position of full disclosure, with exceptions only where there is a strong justification. This Transparency Review defines Government land and property disposals as either a sale of a freehold or leasehold interest which possesses capital value (i.e. where the leasehold is being sold as if it were a freehold interest) on the open market for a monetary consideration. 2. Summary of Findings This Review has reached the following conclusions: 1. The following information was considered in respect of commercial terms for Government land and property disposals: a) Location of land or property. b) Size of land area. c) Type of asset being disposed of (freehold and leasehold). d) Whether the sale has been completed on the basis of a conditional or unconditional contract. e) Date of disposal. f) Method of disposal. g) Capital receipt proceeds from the disposal. h) Whether the sales contract makes provision for overage and / or clawback. i) Full copy of the sales contract. 2. The following information will be fully or partially exempted from publication: a) Full copies of sales contracts would not be published due to the risk of compromising commercial information, data protection and intellectual property. b) Information will be published confirming whether or not each sales contract makes provision for overage and / or clawback. Details of the provisions will not be published due to the concerns of 2 a) above. c) All HS2 land bought by the Secretary of State for Transport and subsequently sold will be excluded from publication including land acquired: Within the Line of Deviation of HS2; Under Blight Notices; By Compulsory Purchase By agreement but under threat of compulsory purchase
included a number of case studies of recent Government land disposals and the information they had been able to collect. Both reports recommended that Government undertake a review into how such information could be made more transparent. Cabinet Office (Government Property Unit) has led a cross-Government review. The approach has assumed a default position of full disclosure, with exceptions only where there is a strong justification. This Transparency Review defines Government land and property disposals as either a sale of a freehold or leasehold interest which possesses capital value (i.e. where the leasehold is being sold as if it were a freehold interest) on the open market for a monetary consideration. 2. Summary of Findings This Review has reached the following conclusions: 1. The following information was considered in respect of commercial terms for Government land and property disposals: a) Location of land or property. b) Size of land area. c) Type of asset being disposed of (freehold and leasehold). d) Whether the sale has been completed on the basis of a conditional or unconditional contract. e) Date of disposal. f) Method of disposal. g) Capital receipt proceeds from the disposal. h) Whether the sales contract makes provision for overage and / or clawback. i) Full copy of the sales contract. 2. The following information will be fully or partially exempted from publication: a) Full copies of sales contracts would not be published due to the risk of compromising commercial information, data protection and intellectual property. b) Information will be published confirming whether or not each sales contract makes provision for overage and / or clawback. Details of the provisions will not be published due to the concerns of 2 a) above. c) All HS2 land bought by the Secretary of State for Transport and subsequently sold will be excluded from publication including land acquired: Within the Line of Deviation of HS2; Under Blight Notices; By Compulsory Purchase By agreement but under threat of compulsory purchase
Publication_Version_Gov_Review_Making_Commercial_Terms_of_Gov_Land_Disposals_More_Transparent.docx