As indicated in reply to Question No. 227 of 4 October 2006, local authorities have been asked as a priority to establish a policy on taking in charge housing estates to be approved by the elected members. These arrangements are premised on the principle that local authorities themselves are best placed to monitor and implement action in this area.
The Working Group established by Department to develop national guidance for local authorities on management companies and the taking in charge of residential estates is nearing completion of its work. The resulting draft guidance for planning authorities will be issued shortly. The essential points of this guidance will also be incorporated into the revised and expanded residential density guidelines, the new Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines, which will be available in draft form later in the year. The Working Group is satisfied that sufficient data on recent local authority practice in this area has been available to it in the context of its work on the new draft guidance.