Policy

National Security Framework of Antarctica (NSF-A)

1) Core Rule

1. Public Ownership Only: All land in Antarctica is government property. No freehold sales or private plot purchases are permitted.
2. Lease Access: Land may be rented/leased solely for approved infrastructure under NSF-A standards and the standard taxation model.

2) Housing Investment Restrictions

1. Individuals Prohibited: Natural persons cannot rent land for housing development or invest directly in residential property.
2. Companies Only (HNW): Housing-related projects are limited to corporate applicants that meet High Net Worth (HNW) criteria and all licensing requirements.

3) Why This Policy Exists

Antarctica’s extreme environment demands high, ongoing capital for structural integrity, safety, utilities, and compliance. Individual investors typically cannot sustain these obligations. Corporate HNW gating protects long-term safety, continuity, and public infrastructure resilience.

4) Eligibility & HNW Criteria (Companies)

Applicants must submit a verified High Net Worth Statement and evidence of financial capacity, including:

1. Audited financials (last 3 years) and proof of liquidity for build + 24 months O&M.
2. Insurance confirmations (construction, public/employers’ liability, business interruption).
3. Performance security (bond/escrow) sized to project risk.
4. Clean ownership & sanctions checks (beneficial ownership transparency).

Individuals: Not eligible for housing projects. May participate via employment or approved tenancy schemes only.

5) Permitted Uses (Illustrative)

1. Utilities, transport nodes, telecoms, digital/data facilities, scientific & medical infrastructure, logistics hubs, industrial estates, and state-regulated housing delivered by HNW companies.

6) Lease & Taxation (Overview)

1. Instrument: Time-bound lease/licence tied to an approved site plan and compliance pack.
2. Rent & Taxes: Ground rent + applicable taxes under the standard taxation model; indexation and use-it-or-lose-it milestones apply.
3. No Subdivision for Sale: Parcel splitting or private resale is prohibited; sub-leasing requires NSF-A approval.
4. Reversion: Assets/land revert to the state on expiry or material breach.

7) Mandatory Compliance

1. Domestic Compliance Only: NSF-A Domestic Compliance Framework (DCF) applies; foreign/international certificates are not substitutes.
2. Licences/Permits (as applicable): Construction Licence, Environmental Permit, Utilities Interface Agreement, Security Integration Certificate, Commercial Science Licence (CSL) for negotiations.
3. CSL Levels: L3 baseline; Bachelor-level for contracts > £75,000; Advanced CSL + independent risk review for > £3,000,000.

8) Application Workflow

1. Expression of Interest (EOI): Site intent + zoning class.
2. HNW & Due Diligence Pack: Verified HNW statement, audited accounts, insurance, bonds, ownership disclosures.
3. Concept & Impact Files: Master layout, utilities load, environmental & safety method statements.
4. Standards Conformance: Architectural/engineering packs aligned to published NSF-A standards.
5. Decision & Terms: Lease offer with rent, KPIs, reporting, and reversion clauses.
6. Mobilisation: Notice to proceed after licence issuance and performance security lodgement.

9) Operational Duties (Post-Award)

1. Maintain structural and life-safety compliance; keep utilities and heating redundancy online.
2. Quarterly reporting (safety, environment, uptime, finance).
3. Permit audits/inspections; remedy findings within SLA.
4. Keep insurance, bonds, and CSL status current.

10) Enforcement

1. Non-Compliance Ladder: CAPA → penalties → suspension → lease termination → reversion of assets → recovery of public costs; criminal referral for fraud or endangerment.
2. False HNW Statements: Immediate rejection/termination; officer blacklisting and legal action.

11) Documentation Checklist (Minimum)

1. Verified HNW Statement + auditor letter
2. Beneficial ownership register & sanctions screening
3. Design packs (architecture/structural/MEP/fire)
4. Environmental & safety method statements
5. Insurance certificates & performance security
6. CSL evidence and sector licences
7. Operations plan (O&M, staffing, spares, emergency)

12) FAQs

1. Can individuals buy or build homes? No. Housing is delivered by approved HNW companies; individuals access housing via state tenancy schemes.
2. Do foreign certifications help? They may inform practice but do not replace DCF authorisations.
3. Can we resell our lease? Only by NSF-A approval; no private plot sales or speculative flipping.

13) Contacts

1. Leases & Land Tenure: land-leases@nsf-antarctica.org
2. Standards & Approvals: build-standards@nsf-antarctica.org
3. Compliance & Audits: compliance@nsf-antarctica.org
4. Ombuds & Appeals: ombuds@nsf-antarctica.org

This policy governs all land access and development. Freehold sales are prohibited. Only financially robust, compliant companies may lease land for approved infrastructure or housing under the NSF-A DCF.

Version 1.0 • Effective 26 September 2025