The naming and numbering of streets and buildings is controlled under the Public Health Act 1925. The reason for this is that any new street names and numbers are allocated logically with a view to ensuring, among other things, that the emergency services are able to quickly locate an address to which they may be summoned.
Anyone wishing to change the name or number of their property or seeking an address for a new property should apply in writing to the Council enclosing a site plan. These should be sent to our team via either the post, or email.
As far as street naming proposals are concerned, we are happy for developers or occupiers to propose their own preferred addresses for consideration, although we do ask that you also consider suggestions from the local Parish Council. It is however suggested that one or more alternative suggestions are put forward just in case your first choice does not meet the criteria. Please note that it is desirable that any suggested street name should have some connection with the area.
Another aspect of the name selection which is considered in allocating street names is the selection of names that can be easily understood over the telephone in the event of an emergency (they should be easy to spell and pronounce). The adoption of names having no more than three syllables and, wherever possible, little scope for ambiguity in spelling, is favoured for this reason.
Renaming/renumbering existing streets and buildings is normally avoided unless the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages. Variations from the general rule are sometimes allowed, but only where it is considered that the 'public safety' objectives are not put at risk.
If your proposals comply with the policy on Street Naming and Numbering and do not meet with any objection from the Emergency Services and Post Office, the new address will be formally allocated and all relevant bodies will be notified (Ordnance Survey, Land Registry etc). Renaming or Renumbering Orders will be issued where necessary.
Street Naming
It should be remembered that a new name should be completely different from any already in existence in the area (a change in the terminal word is not considered a different name).
For private houses in existing un-numbered roads it is essential that the houses are officially allocated names which are registered with the emergency services. Anyone wishing to change the name of their unnumbered house must also apply to the Council.
When a property house has a number, it must be used and displayed. If you wish to give your property a name, this must be used in conjunction with the number.
House Numbering
A new street is usually numbered with even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other, except in some circumstances where numbering may be consecutive.
Private garages and similar buildings used only for housing cars etc are not usually numbered.
All numbers must be used in the proper sequence as far as possible apart from the number 13 on new developments.
For small blocks of flats and infill development it is usual to give a street number to each dwelling in sequence with the existing street numbering. When there are insufficient numbers available because of existing development, the development may be given a name or properties given an alpha numeric indicator, 42C for example.
Properties are individually named only in areas where a numbering scheme does not exist. If you have a house number you may use a name but this would not form part of the official address and should be used with the existing number. For example, Rose Cottage, 3 Main Road, Downtown.
Where house names have to be used, care should be taken not to duplicate the name of a property on the same street or nearby in order to avoid confusion.
Our Process for Street Numbering and Naming
On receipt of a site location plan and application for a street naming and numbering scheme from a developer the following processes take place:
§ A drawing of the new development is produced from the site location plan supplied by the developer.
§ A schedule is produced indicating new street names, plot numbers and corresponding property numbers as indicated on the drawing produced in the point above
A letter, and site location plan are sent out for a consultation period to elected local members, Parish Council and Royal Mail for their comments/objections and provisional allocation of a postcode.
If no objections are received to a naming and numbering scheme a notification letter is dispatched to the developer advising them of the new address. The new address and the corresponding original address is forwarded to statutory undertakers, emergency services and public utilities etc, informing them of the new naming and numbering scheme and the new postcodes that have been allocated to the properties.
Postcode Allocation for New Properties
BCN Consultancy is not responsible for the issuing of new postcodes. This is the responsibility of Royal Mail. However, they will not issue a postcode unless requested to do so by the Council.
Queries about postcodes can be dealt with by the Royal Mail by contacting them on their postcode enquiry line 08456 045060 or visiting their website www.royalmail.com
Postcodes for commercial premises are allocated in the same manner as for residential premises but a large company can apply to the Royal Mail for its own code, known as a large user code. Application for a large user code is the responsibility of that company as they will know the volume of mail that they generate.
For all street naming and numbering issues please call 01246 345814 or 01246 345906
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