Street Naming and Numbering
Summary
Street Naming and Numbering is a statutory function. The
relevant powers for local authorities are contained in Sections 64
and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847, and Sections 17,
18 and 19 of the Public Health Act of 1925. This legislation
requires the Local Authority to prepare street naming and numbering
schemes and to maintain a good standard of street name plates.
Numbering and Naming Procedure
New Estates
It is important that developers apply to the
Building Control Department at an early stage for a street
numbering and naming scheme|. We will normally ask the
developer for suggestions for street names based upon the history
and/or locality of the area, providing they are not similar to any
street name that already exists in the area these may be put
forward for approval to the afore mentioned committee.
Following agreement with the developer to the
proposed street naming and numbering, we will notify the relevant
authorities and statutory undertakers of the approved scheme and
Royal Mail will be asked to allocate postcodes. Royal
Mail will not issue a postcode until informed by the local
authority that an address has been allocated, an address is not
complete without the correct postcode.
When the street name has been agreed a layout
plan and a street numbering and naming schedule is prepared which
allocates a number and street name to the each of the developer’s
plot numbers. Purchasers of new properties should be careful when
passing on their new address details that they are using the postal
number and street name, not the plot number and development name,
as the two will not necessarily be the same.
Small Developments
Single properties or small developments are
generally built on infill plots, large gardens, or on the site of
previously demolished properties. These will be numbered within the
existing sequence, where this is not possible letter suffixes
(for example 1A, 1B and so on) will be used where necessary. Where
a development takes the place on the site of a demolished property,
the new building will inherit the existing number.
Postcodes
We are not responsible for the issuing of new
postcodes, all matters relating to postcodes are the responsibility
of Royal Mail, however they will not issue a postcode for a new
street or property until they have been
officially notified of the scheme by us.
Postcodes for commercial premises are
allocated in the same way as residential premises, but some
companies or businesses can apply to Royal Mail for it’s their own
unique code – known as a large user code. If you receive at least
500 items of mail a day you may be eligible for a unique large user
postcode, applications for a large user code are the responsibility
of the end user and should be made direct to Royal Mail.
All inquiries about postcodes should be dealt
directly with Royal Mail at:-
Searches for postcodes can also be carried out
on the
Royal Mail web site.
Requesting a Property Number and/or Street
Name
Any request for a new or revised property
number or street name must be requested in writing to the Building
Control Department. A site plan must be submitted with the request
on paper no larger than A3, the plan must indicate the
property/properties the request relates too.
Building Names
Whilst we have no objection to a house name
being added to an existing postal address it cannot replace
the street number, which must always be used.
It is a requirement that all properties must
have a street number and not a house name alone, as a number
readily identifies the location of a property in a road. The only
exception to this will be on the rare occasions, where a street
numbering sequence does not exist. When this does occur, we will
accept the use of a building name to identify the property.
Street numbers and building names must
always be prominently displayed where they can be easily read from
the public highway.
General
New street names should not duplicate a name already in use in
the borough or neighboring boroughs. Variations to the terminal
word (street, road, avenue etc.) will not be accepted as a
different name.
New street names should be of local significance and unsuitable
names should be avoided.
Street names should not be difficult to pronounce or awkward to
spell. In general, words of more than three syllables should be
avoided and this includes the use of two words except in special
cases.
Subsidiary names should only be used in roads of short length,
for instance a row of buildings on a road already called a
'Terrace'.
All new street names should end with one of the following
suffixes:
- Road – for any thoroughfare
- Street – for any thoroughfare
- Way – for major roads
- Avenue – for residential roads
- Drive – for residential roads
- Grove – for residential roads
- Lane – for residential roads
- Gardens – subject to there being no
confusion with any local open space
- Place – subject to there being no
confusion with any local open space
- Crescent – for crescent shaped roads
- Close – for cul-de-sac only
- Square – for a square only
- Hill – for a hill-side road only
- Circus – for a large roundabout
- Mews – provided it does not repeat the name
of the road from which access is gained
- Vale – for residential roads. Only for
exceptional circumstances
- Rise/Row – for residential roads. Only for
exceptional circumstances
- Mead/Wharf – for residential roads. Only for
exceptional circumstances
No building or street name is to start with 'the'.
All new block names should end in one of the following
suffixes:
- House
- Court
- Lodge
- Apartments
- Mansions - residential only
- Point – High block residential
- Tower/Heights – High block offices or
residential.
For private houses, the name cannot repeat the name of the road
or any house or building in the area.
The use of North, East, South or West (as in Alfred Road South)
is only acceptable where the road is continuous and passes over a
major junction. It is not acceptable when the road is two separate
parts with no vehicular access between the two. In such a case, one
half should be completely renamed.
Avoid having two phonetically similar names within a postal area
and, if possible within a borough, e.g. Alfred Road & Alfred
Close or Church Hill Road and Birch Hill Road.
Click here to download
the Street Naming and Numbering Application Form
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