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 us at an early stage for a street numbering and naming scheme, as all proposals will have to be reported to our Services Committee| for approval, prior to an official scheme being issued.  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 statuatory 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 a some companies or businesses can apply to Royal Mail for its 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:-

• Address Management Unit, Royal Mail, Castle Forgate, SHREWSBURY, SY1 1AA
• Telephone: 0845 604 5060,
• Fax: 0845 605 4433
• Email: addressdevelopment@royalmail.com|

Searches for postcodes can also be carried out on the Royal Mail web site: www.royalmail.com|[external link]

 

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 Section. 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.

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.

 

Street Name Plates

When a road is built as part of a new development it is the responsibility of the developer to arrange for the installation of a street name plate to the appropriate specification. For further information on this matter and for queries relating to street name plate maintenance, you should contact the Borough Engineer at our Client Services and Contracts Section|.