The Government has been unable to complete a Public Access to Information request to release the title deeds of Tudor Farm because they cannot be found.

Tudor Farm is a 10.36 acre area on the border of Southampton and Sandys zoned as agricultural service and open space reserve that the Government bought for $2.9m in 1989.

The Department of Public Lands and Buildings has said it would continue to search for the deeds.

A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner’s Office said the decision described the “extensive, well thought out and rigorous searches the department undertook of both its electronic and physical records to find the deed”.

“As part of its response to the Pati request, the department provided the applicant with copies of several other documents pertaining to the Tudor Farm property, although it ultimately could not locate the requested title deed,” she added.

“The department shared the applicant’s concern that the title deed for Tudor Farm could not be found and expressed that it will continue to watch for the deed during its work, and will advise the applicant if it locates the deed in the future.

“The department has contacted the Attorney-General’s Chambers for assistance in dealing with the fact that the deed is missing.”

The applicant in the matter was not named.

The ICO spokeswoman said that the department was addressing the issue and would keep the applicant informed.

She added: “The applicant is now better positioned to continue engaging with the department concerning Tudor Farms beyond the context of this Pati request.”

The record titled Decision 20/2022 The Department of Public Lands and Buildings is available here.