To: MHCLG FOIA Team
Email: foia@communities.gov.uk
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your response dated 8 May 2025 regarding my Environmental Information Regulations request (EIR2025/12029).
Having carefully reviewed the information provided, I am writing to formally request disclosure of the missing or incomplete elements of my original request, as permitted under Regulation 5(1) and Regulation 12(4) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
📌 Outstanding or Partially Addressed Elements
I appreciate the detailed explanation of the standard method and the public links you supplied. However, the following elements of my request remain incomplete or were addressed only in general terms:
1. Internal Documents Explaining the Rationale and Compatibility of the 1,119 Figure
I specifically requested internal or external documents, notes, emails, or unpublished working papers outlining how the 1,119 figure was derived and how it aligns with current government policy.
Your reply refers only to the public consultation documents, which were already known to me.
👉 I therefore request that you either:
- Provide any internal briefings, memos, meeting notes, or correspondence discussing the justification or policy alignment of the figure; or
- Confirm, under Regulation 12(4), that no such documents exist and were not withheld under a specific exemption.
2. Communications and Response to EHDC Regarding Downward Adjustment to 828 Homes
I requested any communications or evaluations involving EHDC’s request to reduce their figure from 1,119 to 828 homes/year.
Your response links to EHDC’s published consultation response, but omits any reference to DLUHC’s response or internal handling of that request.
👉 Please provide:
- Copies of email correspondence, assessments, or policy notes discussing EHDC’s stated concern;
- Any internal or external position taken by DLUHC in response to this request for reduction;
- If no such records exist, please confirm this explicitly.
3. Internal Legal Advice or Analysis on National Park Constraints (e.g. South Downs)
I requested any formal position, legal advice, or internal analysis on the acceptability of deviating from the standard method due to the significant area of East Hampshire covered by the South Downs National Park.
Your response only reiterates paragraph 014 of the Planning Practice Guidance, which is already public.
👉 Please confirm:
- Whether DLUHC conducted or received any legal assessments, position papers, or internal guidance relating to the applicability of reduced housing targets in local authorities with extensive National Park coverage; and
- If no such analysis exists, please confirm this under EIR.
❗ Clarification Regarding Data Held by DLUHC
For clarity, this request specifically seeks documents, correspondence, evaluations, and internal analysis held by DLUHC (the Department), not by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC). While references to EHDC’s consultation response are noted, they do not address whether DLUHC internally considered, responded to, or discussed the request to reduce the housing figure.
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 require a public authority to disclose the information it holds, and that obligation is not discharged by redirecting the applicant to information held by a different body.
🔔 Request for Clarification or Confirmation of Withholding
If any of the above categories of information were withheld, please:
- Identify the specific exemption(s) being relied on (e.g. Regulation 12(4)(e) or 12(5)(f));
- Confirm that a public interest test has been carried out; and
- Provide a summary of the reasoning behind the decision not to release the information.
If instead the materials do not exist, I would be grateful for a clear written confirmation of that fact.
I look forward to your response within the statutory time period of 20 working days. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require clarification.
Yours sincerely,