Statutory register - street naming and numbering

The address of a property a very important issue. A growing number of organisations, postal and emergency services, and the general public need an efficient means of locating and referencing properties.

We are the Street Naming and Numbering Authority for the area. We carry out these functions under the proisions of the Public Health Act 1925 sections 17 -19.

Proposals to name a new road

Road naming proposals should include:

• A reason for the choice of name
• A plan showing the street to which the name applies, identifying property entrances
• A list of relevant parties having an interest in the street with their agreement to the choice of name.

A application form is attached at the bottom of this page.

In the absence of any of this information the application will not be processed.

Road Naming Guidelines

• Names should have a local connection, historically, geographically or culturally.
• Names of living people should not be used.
• Names should not have a commercial connection
• Names should not be duplicated within the same postcode district e.g. B93

The name proposed will be checked for compliance with our policy and if necessary the developer will be asked to suggest other names. We will allocate numbers to properties and register formal postal addresses. Our policy is to restrict registered postal addresses to a road name and number if possible.

Completed road naming forms (see attached form below) should be returned at least 15 weeks prior to properties becoming occupied.

Can I Name my House without Contacting the Council?

If a property is already numbered, a property owner can additionally name their property without contacting us as long as it does not conflict with an existing property name in that locality. The property name in this case will not officially form part of the property address, and the property number must still be displayed and referred to in any correspondence, for example:

'My House' (not part of official address)
1 My Road (official address)
Town
County
Postcode

You only need to seek permission from us if there is no number allocated in the official address (ie. if the property has been allocated a name as part of its official address).

How do I Name my House?

In the case of addresses where there is no number allocated, the allocated name does form part of the official address. In this instance property owners wishing to change the property name need to put their request in writing, stating their name, the present full address of the property and state clearly their new preferred name.

We will contact Royal Mail to see if they have knowledge of a similar named property in the locality. We check our information systems and if the name is satisfactory, then the new address is registered and you will be informed accordingly. If there is an issue with your preferred name, we will request alternatives.

The property name change information is then sent to Royal Mail, Emergency and Essential Services and other relevant Council and commercial services. It is the responsibility of property owners to inform their own personal contacts etc.

This service may be chargeable.

Developing a Single Property/Small Development - How do I Number Properties?

If you are a developer of a new property (single or small development), you should contact us as soon as you commence work on site. A single or small development will usually be named or numbered into the existing street. If the property is within a numbered road, then often ABCs are used along with the adjoining number (for example 12A, 12B, 12C...).

If the street has named properties, then the development plot numbers will be used initially to register the property address and subsequently, when the new owner chooses a name, we will follow our standard process of Property Name Change. The information is then sent to public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and other relevant services. You will also be sent a copy of the registered address from which we would ask you to inform your prospective purchasers of their new property address.

Developing a Large Estate - How do I Name New Streets and Number Properties?

If you are a developer of a large estate, you should contact us as soon as you commence work on site so that we can process the naming of any new streets and the numbering of your new properties without delay. We will check your suggested street names for duplication in the local area and forward them to Royal Mail for consultation.

When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule. The information is then sent to public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and other relevant services. You will also be sent a copy of the naming and numbering schedule from which we would ask you to inform all your prospective purchasers of their new property address. Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street name plates to our standard design. Postcodes are allocated by Royal Mail once the address becomes registered.

What Happens if a Street Needs Renaming/Renumbering?

On rare occasions it becomes necessary to rename or renumber a street. This is usually only done as a last resort when:

• there is confusion over a street's name and/or numbering
• a group of residents are unhappy with their street name
• new properties are built in a street and there is a need for other properties to be renumbered to accommodate the new properties
• the number of named-only properties in a street is deemed to be causing confusion for visitors, postal delivery or emergency services

Existing residents will be contacted and their views taken into account. We will then consult the Royal Mail for their position on the issue. To change a street name we will ballot the local residents on the issue. Hopefully there will be 100% support, but we require at least a two-thirds majority to make the change. This a very time consuming process and we are only able to progress one of these issues at any time.

However if you think you have a street naming issue, please contact us at the address below.