The address of a property is becoming an increasingly important issue. More organisations, postal and emergency services, and the general public need an efficient way of locating and referencing properties. The council is the street naming and numbering authority for the area.
Can I name my house without contacting the council?
If a property is already numbered, a property owner can also name their property without contacting the council.
The property name in this case will not officially form part of the property address. 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 get 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).
Developing a single property or 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 start 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, ABCs are often used along with the adjoining number. For example, 12A, 12B, 12C.
If the street has named properties, the development plot numbers will be used initially to register the property address.
Then, 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 relevant council 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?
If you are a developer of a large estate, you should contact us as soon as you commence work on site. This is 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 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 relevant council 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) and also a certificate for the house owner. Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street name plates to our standard design and a cost will be provided at the appropriate time.
What happens if a street needs renaming/renumbering?
On rare occasions, it is 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, delivery services 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 per cent support, but we need at least a two-thirds majority to make the change. This is 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.
Contact information
For more information please contact your local Building Control Technician.
Related information:
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