Street Naming and Numbering
The Council's Building Control Service maintains the street naming and numbering register. These powers are contained in Sections 64 and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847 and Sections 17-19 of the Public Health Acts 1925.
The address of a property is an increasingly important issue. With the current growth in development in the district it is vital that services and organisations can locate a property quickly and efficiently. The purpose of this control is to make sure that any new street names and building names and numbers are allocated logically.
Anyone wishing to change the name or number of their property or seeking an address for a new property, should apply in writing to the council enclosing an site location and layout plan (including for rural properties a national grid reference if possible).
Links to download the guidance notes and application form are at the top right hand side of this page.
As far as street naming proposals are concerned the council is happy for developers or occupiers to propose their own preferred addresses for consideration. However it is recommended that more than one suggestion for a new name should be put forward in case one fails to meet the criteria outlined. Any suggested road name should have some connection with the area or history of the area. The council’s decision is final.
If your proposals comply with the council's policy on street naming and numbering and do not meet with any objections from the Post Office or Parish/Town Council, the new address will be formally allocated and all relevant bodies will be notified.
The guidelines set out the council's criteria for street naming and numbering. Variation from the general rule are sometimes allowed but only where it is considered that the 'public safety' objectives are not put at risk.
New Housing Developments
Street Names
All new street names should end with a terminal word such as, Avenue, Drive, Place or Gardens. These titles are acceptable for any type of new street within the area.
Names should not normally start with "The".
- Street or Road - for any thoroughfare
- Way - for a major road
- Crescent – for a crescent shaped road only
- Close – for a cul-de-sac only
- Square – for a square only
- Hill – for a hill only
- Circus – for a roundabout only
- Terrace – for a terrace of houses but NOT as a subsidiary name within another road
- Mews – this is currently popular and is considered acceptable in appropriate circumstances.
- End – for a road with only one entrance/exit
- Lane - for development of an historic by way
Pedestrian Ways
All new pedestrian ways should end with Walk, Path or Alley
Named Blocks
All named blocks should end with one of the following:
- Court – for flats and other residential buildings
- Mansions – other residential buildings
- House – residential blocks only
- Point – high residential blocks only
- Tower – high residential or office blocks
It should be remembered that a new name should be completely different from any already in use in the area.
We will check your suggested street names for duplication in the local area and forward them to Royal Mail for consultation. When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name(s) and prepare a numbering schedule.
For private houses in existing unnumbered roads it is essential that the houses be officially allocated names, which are registered with the emergency services.
Changing the name of your house
Anyone wishing to change the name of their unnumbered house must also apply to the Council. We will check our information systems to see if there is a similar named property in the locality, if the name is satisfactory, then the new address will be registered and you will be informed accordingly. If there is an issue with your preferred name, we will request alternatives.
The information will be sent to all the utilities, emergency services, land registry etc. It is the responsibility of the property owners to inform their own personal contacts etc. There may be a charge for this service.
Where a name has been allocated as well as a number this must always be used with the number it cannot be regarded as an alternative.
The property name in this case will not form part of the official address and the property number must be displayed and referred to in any correspondence for example:
"My House" (not part of the official address)
1 My Road (official address)
Town
County
Postcode
Numbering of buildings
A new street is usually numbered with even numbers on one side (normally the right approaching from the town centre) and odd numbers on the other, except for a cul-de-sac where numbering is usually consecutive in a clockwise direction.
Private garages and similar buildings used only for housing cars etc. are not usually numbered.
All numbers, including 13, 7 and 4 must be used in the proper sequence. Application to omit any number from a numbering sequence for whatever reason will be refused. Building names or numbers will be allocated to the road serving the principal entrance.
For small blocks of flats it is usual to give a street number to each dwelling. In tall blocks of flats (over two floors) each flat is numbered so that the number indicates the floor level.
Renaming or renumbering of streets and buildings
Renaming/renumbering existing streets and buildings is normally avoided unless the benefits clearly out weigh the obvious disadvantages. Only on rare occasions will it become necessary to rename or renumber a street and will only be done when there is no alternative.
How to apply
Download the application form and guidance from the links at the top of the page. If you would like to discuss your proposals before making your application, you should contact Clive Gregory in Building Control 01524 582355.
Postcodes
To clarify, the council assigns a postal address to a property and then informs Royal Mail, who will in turn assign a postcode. However, it will not issue post codes without having received notification from the council that addresses have been allocated to the properties concerned.
Queries about postcodes can be dealt with by the Royal Mail by contacting them on their postcode enquiry line: 0906 302 1222
Or visit their website: www.royalmail.com/portal/rm
If you have delivery problems telephone the Royal Mail’s Customer Service Centre: 0845 7740 740
Or write to: Royal Mail, Customer Services, Freepost, RM1 1AA
It is imperative that the council is informed of any change of address details to a residential or commercial property so that other organisations can be informed. Failure to do so may have an impact on emergency service responses, connecting to utilities companies, obtaining credit and receiving mail.
Naming and Numbering Standards
Under the Public Health Act S65 a properties number, or name where this is the official address, must be used and displayed preferably with a minimum size of numerals of 62.5mm (2.5 inches) and their numbers should be displayed in a clearly readable position facing the road. Mounting may be on gates, gateposts, doors or walls as appropriate, but ensuring that there is a good colour contrast between numerals and the back ground to which they are fixed.
Broken, Damaged or missing nameplates
These should be reported to:
Clive Gregory
Information Services
Town Hall
Dalton Square
Lancaster LA1 1QR
Telephone: 01524 582355