Street Naming and Numbering Policy

The property developer should not give any postal addresses, including postcode, to potential occupiers, either directly or indirectly (e.g. via solicitors or estate agents) before the respective Council has issued formal approval. The Councils will not be liable for any costs incurred or claims for damages caused by failure to comply with this.

Developers should always apply directly to the respective Council at the earliest opportunity for new postal addresses, i.e. as soon as development starts on site.

For roadways to be adopted by the Highway Authority

To register new development addresses, developers should send in a covering letter setting out the full details of the proposal. A development is considered to be two or more dwellings or properties.

All applications must be accompanied by the fee of £40.00 per property.

All proposals must also be accompanied by a site location plan - this should be at a minimum scale of 1:2500 and should contain sufficient detail to accurately locate properties. The confirmed layout drawing showing the road layout, plot numbers and any suggested house numbers (or names) is the most appropriate plan (for convenience a maximum size of A3 is preferred). For developments that include flats, internal layout plans are also required.

The applicant or developer may suggest a possible name or names for any new street(s). Several suggestions for names can be made in case the Council, Royal Mail or the Town/Parish Council object.

The proposed street names are then passed via email to the relevant Town/Parish Council and Ward Member for approval, copying in the portfolio holder for SNN. Town/Parish Councils and/or Ward Member can at this stage suggest their own names that conform to our Policy.

Town/Parish Councils will contact us once the members have considered any proposal and within 21 days from the date of consultation. If the Town/Parish have been unable to meet and formally consider the proposal in the timescale given then the local Ward Member would be able to put forward an objection. If the Town/Parish Council, local Ward Member or the Council objects to the proposal, the Council will serve a notice of objection in writing and consult with the developer. Where no agreement can be made, final approval of street names is made under delegated authority by the COP lead for Development Management.

The developer will cover the initial costs of street nameplates and ensure they adhere to the Councils specification and installation guidelines (Appendix C). Normal street sign practice is to erect one sign at the entrance to a street; however two signs may be more appropriate where there is access to a busy street, or where visibility is restricted. Where appropriate, additional information regarding access to other streets may also be added e.g. 'Leading to ...' Each case will be considered on its merits and road safety should be a primary consideration.

The Council will cover maintenance costs after the street nameplate has been erected in accordance with our installation guidelines and appropriate specification. On occasions street nameplates may become damaged or defaced and will require replacement. Anyone needing to report a problem with a street nameplate should contact the Council on the main switchboard number.

Numbering of the new street(s) will be carried out following guidelines within this policy. All properties on newly named streets will be allocated numbers. All new properties on existing streets will be numbered if possible unless existing properties on that street all have official dwelling names and no numbers, or it is an infill development.

Where the development is an infill development on an existing street the Council will number the properties wherever possible, and suffix the number with a letter as appropriate in order to accurately define the location of the property on the street.

Where the street does not have an existing numbering scheme the developer should suggest property names. The property name must comply with the guidance set out in this policy.

When numbering and naming is complete the Council will contact the Royal Mail who will allocate the postcode to the address, and add the property to their 'not yet built' file.

Once the Royal Mail have allocated the postcode, the Council will write to the developer with official confirmation of the full postal address, and where applicable, any instructions for the erection of street nameplates.

The Council will notify users who have requested address change information and supply a plan indicating the location of all the properties. A list of those notified is shown in Appendix A.

Where developers have not applied for an address and occupation of the property has taken place, the Council will endeavour to contact the owner or developer and ask for an official application to be submitted. If an application is not received within four weeks of the Council contacting them, the Council will allocate an address. If at a later stage, the owner wishes to change the property name, they will have to follow the official procedure to make the change and a charge will be made.