Addressing new properties and naming new streets

Any new property development needs to be registered with us.

Maintaining a comprehensive and high standard for naming streets and numbering properties is important as it allows:

• Emergency services to find a property quickly
• Mail to be delivered efficiently
• Reliable delivery of services and products
• Consistency of property based information across local government and the community of users for addresses

New properties and developments

All new properties and developments need to be registered with us, as this is the only way that a postcode can be assigned to the property.

To help us make a decision as quickly as possible, you will need to email us:

• any proposed names
• plans outlining the building in question

Once you have contacted us, we will check any proposed name(s) and advise you of our addressing decision, and any fees you will need to pay.

A single property/small development - numbering the property

If you are a developer of a new property (single or small development), you should contact us as soon as you start work on site. A single or small development will usually be numbered in accordance with the numerical order in the existing street. If the property is within a numbered road, then often suffixes are used along with the adjoining number (for example 12A, 12B, 12C...).

If the street has unnumbered, named properties, then the development will not be registered until there is agreement between the owner and the Council on an appropriate name.

Once a development has been named and/or numbered, the information is sent to Royal Mail, public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and relevant council services. You will also be sent a copy of the registered address from which we would ask you to inform your purchasers of their new property address.

Developing a large estate - naming and numbering new streets

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 streets and the numbering of your new properties without delay.

Developers are advised to have had the street naming and numbering scheme approved before any utilities are required on site. If incorrect addressing is assumed by the developer, it is extremely difficult to have the utility company records corrected. We will take no responsibility for a developer submitting incorrect information to the utility companies.

When we have an agreed name (following the required consultation process), we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule. The information is then sent to Royal Mail, 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. Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street name plates to our standard design.