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Street naming and numbering: frequently asked questions

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In what circumstances do I have to seek permission from the council before I can ‘name’ my house?

If your property already has a name allocated in the official address (i.e. if the property has been allocated a name, rather than a number, as part of its official address) you will need to seek permission from the council to change this name.

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How to seek permission from the council to change the property name

The property owner needs to put their request in writing, stating their name, the present full address of the property and the new preferred name.

  1. We will contact royal mail to see if they have knowledge of a similar named property in the area.
  2. We also check our own information systems
  3. If the name is satisfactory, then the new address is registered and you will be informed accordingly
  4. If there is an issue with your preferred name, we will request alternatives
  5. The property name change information is then sent to royal mail, emergency and essential services and other relevant council services
  6. It is the responsibility of property owners to inform their own personal contacts, etc
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How to number properties if you are a developer of a new property (single or small development)

  1. You should contact us as soon as you commence work on site
  2. A single or small development will usually be named or numbered into the existing street. If the property is within a numbered road, ABCs are often used along with the adjoining number (for example, 12A, 12B, 12C …)
  3. If the street has properties with names instead of numbers, then the development plot numbers will be used initially to register the property address. Subsequently, when the new owner chooses a name, they should follow our standard process for property name change (see above).
  4. We then send the information to public utilities, emergency services, land registry, ordnance survey and relevant council services.
  5. We will also send you a copy of the registered address. We would ask you to inform your prospective purchasers of their new property address.
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Developing a large estate - how to name new streets and number properties

  1. 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.
  2. We will check your suggested street names for duplication in the local area, and forward them to the royal mail for consultation.
  3. When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule.
  4. We then send the new addresses to public utilities, emergency services, land registry, ordnance survey and relevant council services.
  5. We will also send you 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.
  6. Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street name plates to our standard design. There may be a cost attached to this. For more information about this, please contact us.
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What happens if a street needs renaming/renumbering?

On rare occasions it becomes necessary to rename or renumber a street. This is usually only done as a last resort when:

  • a road closure is installed in a street, preventing through access and severing two parts of the street
  • there is confusion over a street's name and/or numbering
  • new properties are built in a street, and there is a need for other properties to be renumbered to accommodate the new properties
  • the number of named-only properties in a street is deemed to be causing confusion for visitors, delivery or emergency services

The process is as follows:

  1. Through the issue of a public notice on the affected street, we will signal our intention to change the street name and in doing so will take any views into account.
  2. We will then consult the Royal Mail for their position on the issue.
  3. When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name(s) and prepare a numbering schedule.
  4. We then send the new addresses to public utilities, emergency services, land registry, ordnance survey and relevant council services.
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Can I 'name' my house without contacting the council?

If your property is already numbered, you can give your property an additional name without contacting the Council, as long as it does not conflict with an existing property name in your area.

The property name in this case will not officially form part of the property address, and the property number must still be displayed and referred to in any correspondence. For example:

'My House' (not part of official address)
1 My Road (official address)
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