Street naming and numbering

For many organisations - such as the Post Office, emergency services and utility companies - it is crucial that there is an efficient means of locating and referencing properties. As such the Council is required to provide a street naming and numbering service.

What we do

Responsibility for street naming and numbering rests with the our Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and GIS Coordinator, and the Street Naming and Numbering Officer. They ensure that all properties are named and numbered according to 'BS7666', which ensures that any new streets and buildings are named and numbered in a logical and consistent way and are entered in the correct format on the Council’s system.

New developments and streets

To apply for new street names, developers should complete an application form and return it to us at the address provided on the form together with the relevant application fee. We also require a copy of a site plan - this is used to indicate the correct postal numbering and location of street name plates. Suggestions for street names should be submitted in accordance with the guidance notes.

A copy of the site plan is available from Centremaps at Freephone 0800 328 8975 or by accessing the Centremaps website (external link). Alternatively, a copy is available from the Planning Portal (external link).

Apply for street naming and numbering online
Download a copy of the application form (Adobe PDF format, 38kb)
Download a copy of the charges schedule (Adobe PDF format, 13kb)
Download a copy of the Street Naming and Numbering Guide (Adobe PDF format, 43.4kb)

The approval process

Once we have received the proposals we consult with the Royal Mail, the Council's ward members, portfolio holder and, where applicable, the parish council. We allow a period of two weeks for any comments or objections to be made, and 28 days for the full procedure.

Once a new postal address or street name has been allocated we will contact Royal Mail, who are responsible for the allocation of postcodes. Royal Mail will not allocate a postcode until they have received formal notification from ourselves of a new street name or address.

On receipt of the postcode, we will then inform the developer or occupier as appropriate. We will also inform other interested parties of the new address or street name. These include the emergency services, council departments and other organisations.

Any queries regarding postcodes can be dealt with by the Royal Mail by calling 0906 302 1222 (Postcode Enquiries), or via the Royal Mail (external link) website.

Change of property name

If your property has a name instead of a postal number and you wish to change the name, you need approval. This is to make sure that the Local Land and Property Gazetteer is kept up to date and to ensure that the guidance for street naming is followed. It also ensures that properties in the same area don't have the same name, in order to avoid confusion for the emergency services and the post office.

Houses with postal numbers and names

If your property has a postal number and you want to give it a name as well, you do not need approval. However, it is advisable to check with us in case there are any other properties with the same name in the area. Replacing a postal number with a name will not be approved as this causes confusion for postal deliveries and the emergency services.

You can display the name on your property and use it alongside the postal number in the address, but your property will always be identified by the number.