We gathered relevant information from various sources, mainly:
■ English Partnerships' and departmental papers recording the process followed for the two sale competitions and the legal agreements underpinning the deal;
■ English Partnerships' and their advisers' papers on market testing and negotiations;
■ Financial models prepared for English Partnerships to test the value for money of Meridian Delta Ltd's proposals against other options; and
■ Interviews with officials from English Partnerships, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport about their role in the development of the sale; and a survey of bidders in the two competitions.