Croydon Borough Empty or Unused Property or Land

The request was refused by Croydon Borough Council.

Date: 25.08.16
Dear Croydon Borough Council,

RE: Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – Information Request – Unused / Derelict Properties

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. To help guide you with the information retrieval, I have focused my request in the below categories.

As part of the decisions made by multiple councils to release its list of all “long-term” empty domestic and commercial properties, such as Lambeth and Bexley, and the decision by Judge Fiona Henderson to order Camden Council to make public its list of empty housing, could you please send me a copy of the:

(a) addresses of all empty or unused privately owned homes, which have been empty for more than 12 Months, that are within the Croydon Borough.
(b) addresses of all empty or unused council owned homes, which have been empty for more than 12 Months,, that are within the Croydon Borough.
(c) addresses of all empty or unused commercial properties, which have been empty for more than 12 Months,, that are within the Croydon Borough.
(d) the addresses stated within (a), (b) and (c), which have had Planning Applications submitted within the previous 24 Months.
(e) the status of the Planning Applications stated in (d), either Approved, Rejected or Withdrawn.

In considering this request, I hope you will take into account
Judge Henderson's statement on releasing the empty housing list in
Lambeth:
"The Tribunal is satisfied that publication of this list would
bring a proportion of the void properties back into use earlier
than would otherwise be the case and that, consequently, this is a
strong public interest in favour of disclosure."

I would like to receive the information in electronic format if
possible. If you need further clarification, please contact me by email and/or phone.
If my request is denied in whole or in part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all non-exempt material. I reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to charge excessive fees.

I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have
received this request. I look forward to your response within 20
working days, as outlined by the statute.

Yours sincerely,

Max Valentine

Freedom of Information, Croydon Borough Council

 

Dear Mr Valentine

 

Freedom of Information Request

 

Thank you for your recent request.

 

Your request is being considered and you will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days, subject to the application of
any exemptions. Where consideration is being given to exemptions the 20
working day timescale may be extended to a period considered reasonable
depending on the nature and circumstances of your request. In such cases
you will be notified and, where possible, a revised time-scale will be
indicated. In all cases we shall attempt to deal with your request at the
earliest opportunity.

 

There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information requested where the request exceeds the statutory limit or
where disbursements exceed £450. In such cases you will be informed in
writing and your request will be suspended until we receive payment from
you or your request is modified and/or reduced.

 

Your request may require either full or partial transfer to another public
authority. You will be informed if your request is transferred.

 

If we are unable to provide you with the information requested we will
notify you of this together with the reason(s) why and details of how you
may appeal (if appropriate).

 

Please note that the directorate team may contact you for further
information where we believe that the request is not significantly clear
for us to respond fully.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Ahtisham Riaz

FOI Co-ordinator

Croydon Council

 

Information in relation to the London Borough of Croydon is available
at [1]http://www.croydonobservatory.org/. Also responses to previous
Freedom of Information requests can also be found on the following link

[2]https://croydondata.wordpress.com/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Council services, online, 24/7 www.croydon.gov.uk/myaccount Download our
new free My Croydon app for a faster, smarter and better way to report
local issues www.croydon.gov.uk/app

From 1 October 2015, it is a legal requirement for all privately rented
properties in Croydon to be licensed. Landlords without a licence could
face fines of up to £20,000. For more information and to apply for a
licence visit www.croydon.gov.uk/betterplacetorent

Please use this web site address to view the council's e-mail disclaimer -
http://www.croydon.gov.uk/email-disclaimer

References

Visible links
1. http://www.croydonobservatory.org/
2. https://croydondata.wordpress.com/

Freedom Of Information, Croydon Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Valentine,

Freedom of Information Request

Please see attached the council's response to your Freedom of Information
Request.

Yours sincerely,

Ash Riaz

FOI Coordinator

Croydon council.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Council services, online, 24/7 www.croydon.gov.uk/myaccount Download our
new free My Croydon app for a faster, smarter and better way to report
local issues www.croydon.gov.uk/app

From 1 October 2015, it is a legal requirement for all privately rented
properties in Croydon to be licensed. Landlords without a licence could
face fines of up to £20,000. For more information and to apply for a
licence visit www.croydon.gov.uk/betterplacetorent

Please use this web site address to view the council's e-mail disclaimer -
http://www.croydon.gov.uk/email-disclaimer