Street Naming and Numbering

Planning advice, building control and town centre management

The address of a property is increasingly becoming a very important issue . More organisations, postal and emergency services, and the general public need an efficient means of locating and referencing properties. The Council is the Street Naming and Numbering Authority for the area. It carries out these functions under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1925 sections 17 -19.

To make an online request for information please click here

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 the Council 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 the Council 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 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 property will usually be numbered into the existing street.  If the property is within a numbered road, the often ABC's are used along with the adjoining number (for example 12A)

If the street has named properties, then the developer or owner may choose a name.

A small development is usually given an overall name and the properties numbered. 

When checks have been made to ensure the address details are not duplicated, the information is then sent to the public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance survey and the relevant Council services.  You will also be sent a copy of the registered address, we would ask you to inform all purchasers/occupiers of the address details.

Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide signage or street nameplates to our standard design.

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 a soon as you commence work on site.

Checks will be made on your suggested street names to ensure the address details are not duplicated.  Once agreed the information is sent to the public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and the relevant Council services.

You will also be sent a copy of the naming and numbering schedule.  We ask you to inform all purchasers/ occupiers of the address details.

Where appropriate you will be asked to provide street nameplates to our standard design.

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, the 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 above.

This service may be chargeable.