Street naming and numbering FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions.

• Can I give my house a name?
• How are new street names chosen?
• How can I check a postcode?
• How do I get a postcode?
• What is the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG)?

Can I give my house a name?

If you already have a postal number for your property but wish to allocate a name as well, the name may only be used on an informal basis and will not be registered by the Council. This is because omitting postal numbers in place of a name causes complications for deliveries as well as for the emergency services. You can erect a name plaque on your property and quote the name in the address along with the postal number, but the name cannot replace your number. Your property will always be known by the number.

If your property has a name and not a postal number and you wish to change the name of the property, you will need our approval. It may cause confusion if more than one property in the same road or vicinity has the same name. This confusion may cause delays for emergency services.

How are new street names chosen?

Where new roads are to be constructed, developers can suggest suitable names to the Council based upon the following rules.

• Where possible names should reflect the history of the site or acknowledge the geography of the area.
• Names cannot be duplicated in the District.
• Names of living people are not normally allowed.
• Names that could be seen as advertising are not acceptable.
• Suggested names need to be sufficiently unique to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.
• Names that could be considered offensive will not be accepted.

Local Ward Councillors are always consulted on a new street name prior to any approval.

How can I check a postcode?

By using the postcode/address finder service on the Royal Mail (external link) web site.

How do I get a postcode?

The Council is responsible for creating a new postal address excluding the postcode. Royal Mail is then responsible for the allocation of a postcode to the address. Royal Mail will only allocate a postcode once they have been notified by the council of a new postal address. If you wish to contact Royal Mail to ask about your postcode the telephone number is 08457 740740.

What is the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG)?

The LLPG is a database which lists property and pieces of land within the borough. The LLPG will take the place of departmental address databases, so that everyone within the Council will be using the same central source of address information.

All local authorities in England and Wales are obliged to maintain a LLPG for their area and to submit information from it to a central gazetteer, the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG). The NLPG data will be used by Fire, Police and other Government departments to deliver joined up services.