Street naming and numbering register

The address of a property is very important. Many 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 and has responsibility for the allocation of house numbers and street names. Individuals and developers must not allocate their own house numbers or building / street names.

Can I name my house if it already has a street number?

If a property is already numbered, a property owner can add a name to their property. However, it is recommended that the Council be contacted about the name so that we can log it into our database for future reference. The property name in such a case will not form part of the official property address, and the property number must still be displayed and referred to in any correspondence.

How do I name my house where there are no street numbers?

In the case of a new dwelling, the Council should be contacted with the suggested house name. In the case of addresses where there is no number allocated, the house name forms part of the official address. We will contact Royal Mail to see if they have knowledge of a similarly 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.

In the event of property owners wishing to change the property name, they need to put their request in writing, stating their name, the present full address of the property and state clearly their new preferred name.

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.

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 or small development will usually be named or numbered into the existing street.

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 as soon as you commence work on site so that we can process the naming of any new street 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 local Councils and Royal Mail for consultation. Street names should not duplicate any existing names and should have an historical connection to the site.

When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name 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.