Westmeath County Council Taking In Charge Process

Taking in charge application process

Taking in charge is a formal legal process by which responsibility for certain public areas and services in a private residential development or estate are transferred to, or put in the charge of, by a local authority.

When a residential development is completed in accordance with all the conditions and particulars of its planning permission, the developer or a plebiscite of home owners, may make a written request to the Planning Department to have an estate taken in charge (open green spaces, roads, public lighting and services). The application may be made using the Councils Taking in charge application form.

In order to facilitate the taking in charge process, Westmeath County Council have prodcued a taking in charge policy which shall be consulted to achieve a timely and efficient Taking In Charge process. 

The requirements of the taking in charge process are listed below.

1. Completed application form.
2. As-constructed drawings in AutoCAD format (electronic) showing the foul sewer, surface water sewer, invert levels, manholes cover levels and water mains network.
3. CCTV footage and reports for the foul sewer and surface water sewer networks.
4. Manhole survey for the foul sewer and surface water sewer networks.
5. Irish Water Cert of Conformance
6. Public lighting drawings, certificates, etc.
7. Lighting design reality report - this includes a lighting calculation (to be assessed for suitability by Westmeath County Council lighting designer) and a drawing showing the location of each lighting column, locations of micro-pillars and ESB mini pillars or connection points.  Below is a link to an excel document named 'WCC Public Lighting Template Information'.  This seeks information on the public lights, like the location, pole number, pole structure, lantern type, lux, tilt, brackets, electrics etc.
8. Third Party Certification by Engineer/Architect.
9. Copy of Professional Indemnity Insurances of Engineer/Architect.

If any surface water sewers are on third party lands, 10m wide (5m either side) wayleaves/burdens to be put in place. This is to allow for future maintenance works to be able to take place.  Any costs incurred for this to be borne by the developer/landowner.

As part of the Taking in Charge process, the Council requires the public lands including roads, footpaths and open spaces within this development to be transferred to the Council.  Therefore, once taken in charge, legal responsibility for the public areas within this development will be transferred from the landowner over to the Council.

The public lands within this estate need be shown on an original Ordinance Survey land registry compliant map certified by a chartered engineer.

A standard, signed and witnessed "Deed of Transfer" document transferring ownership of these areas to Westmeath County Council for a nominal sum of €1 shall be attached with the land registry compliant maps.  This standard document can be drawn up by your Solicitor and all costs involved with the transfer process as outlined above must be borne by the developer/landowners.

Please request your solicitor to forward, by registered post, the Deed of Transfer together with the Land Registry compliant maps to the Council's Solicitor.

When the residential development has been taken in charge by the Council, it is highly recommended that a residents committee is established to maintain the public green areas within the estate.

Any queries in relation to the taking in charge process shall be addressed to tic@westmeathcoco.ie. 

Please contact the Taking In Charge Officer at tic@westmeathcoco.ie for the latest edition of the Westmeath County Council Taking In Charge Policy.

• Westmeath County Council Public Lighting Policy Document
• Planning A Guide to Taking-in-Charge of Completed Residential Developments ‌‌
• Estates taken in charge.
• WCC Public Lighting Template Information ‌
• ‌Westmeath County Council TIC Application Form - Homeowners