Article: Statutory register of street names and numbering Error loading MacroEngine script (file: PageImages.cshtml) Article Body The addressing of properties is increasingly becoming a very important issue. Organisations such as the postal and emergency services, along with the general public, need an efficient means of locating and referencing properties. It is the councils responsibility to allocate property numbers and road names in a logical manner to new developments, including property conversions, and to notify the Royal Mail in order for them to issue postcodes. We do so with a view to ensuring, among other things, the effective delivery of mail and that emergency service vehicles are able to find any address to which they are summoned. If a property is not registered, it will not appear on the main address database and the owner/occupier will thereby encounter difficulties in obtaining mail, goods and services from a variety of sources, for example, applying for a credit card or obtaining goods by mail order. The main address database is used by the council, Royal Mail, all statutory undertakers, emergency services, credit agencies and many private companies. Streets on new developments are normally named prior to people taking occupancy and house numbers are allocated at the same time. Requests for postal addressing can be made by: Individuals or developers building new houses, commercial and/or industrial premises. Individuals or developers undertaking conversions of residential, commercial or industrial premises, which will result in the creation of new properties or premises or the reconsolidation of flats and sub-dwellings into one property. Any property owner can name their property. However, although a name can be added to the address, once a property has been officially numbered, this number must be retained in the address and displayed on the front of the property. Procedure For new premises Requests for postal addressing must be made in the early stages of any new build, usually once the planning and building control permissions have been granted and as soon as a firm layout is known. Utility companies are reluctant to install a service where an official postal address has not been allocated. All requests for postal addresses must be made prior to occupation of the premises, as consultations have to take place with local ward councillors prior to the approval of any street names. Where new roads are to be constructed, developers will be able to propose suitable names for adoption by the Highway Authority. Requests must be made to the Street Naming and Numbering Team by the following methods: e-mail SNN@barnsley.gov.uk By post - at the address shown below. Fax (01226) 772698 Please note each method will require the submission of a scaled plan showing the full extent of the development and the internal layouts of flats or apartments, clearly showing door and access provision. Where new roads are to be constructed, developers will be able to propose suitable names for adoption by the Highway Authority. Street naming is subject to the following criteria Names cannot be duplicated within the same locality. Names for consideration need to be unique to avoid confusion. Names of persons (living or dead) are not permissible. Where possible, names should reflect the history of the site or acknowledge the geography of the area. Names that endorse commercial marketing are not acceptable. Names should not be capable of being misconstrued into inappropriate meanings. Requests for new street names can be made in the same way as for postal addresses. Houses with postal numbers and a name If you have a postal number for your property but also wish to assign it with a name, the name will only be used on an informal basis and will not be registered by the council. The reason for this is that 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 along with the postal number in the address but, for official purposes, it will always be known by the number. Allocation of new postal addresses and new streets Once the council has allocated a new postal address and/or new street name, all relevant and statutory authorities and emergency organisations will be notified; along with the Royal Mail who are responsible for the allocation of postcodes. The Royal Mail will not allocate a postcode unless they have received formal notification from the council of a new address or street designation. All new addresses are allocated in accordance with British Standard 7666:2006. Helplines To contact us please telephone: (01226) 772678/2679 or send an email to SNN@barnsley.gov.uk Application Forms Copies of the Street Naming and Numbering Application Form are available to download here. Alternatively, you can visit us at the Barnsley Connects, The Civic, Eldon Street, Barnsley, S70 2JL between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Friday, where we provide a duty surveyor. In addition, you may contact Building Control to obtain a copy by post. Opening times/locations: For telephone enquiries please contact us by telephone during normal office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Phone: 01226 772678 For Postal Enquiries: Building Control Services Planning and Transportation Barnsley Council PO Box 604 Barnsley S70 9FE. Legislation The street naming and numbering service is carried out under the provisions of the Public Health Act 1925 sections 17-19 and provides the principal point of contact for address issues. Some Local Acts, such as Sections 64 and 65 of the Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847, amended by Section 15 of the South Yorkshire Act 1980 provide additional variations for street naming/re-naming/re-numbering etc. Websites Public Health Act 1925 - Visit the website of the Office of Public Sector Information to view the Public Health Act 1925. Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847 - Visit the website of the Office of Public Sector Information to view the Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847 Response times/next steps Upon receipt of your application, the council will determine the correct address and they will issue it to bodies including the emergency services. We will try to reach a decision as soon as possible, and will write to you when it has been made. Additional notes At present, it is council policy that all new and replacement street nameplates should be made of recycled plastic. Frequently Asked Questions: What do I do if I want to give my house a name? Any property owner can name their property. The council will have no objections so long as it does not conflict with an existing property name in that locality. However, although a name can be added to the address, once a property has been officially numbered, this number must be retained in the address and displayed on the property. The council has the power to enforce this requirement under Section 15 : South Yorkshire Act 1980 and fines can be imposed. Property owners are required to apply in writing including the completion of an application form and pay the relevant fee. Your application, along with payment, should then be sent to Building Control Services, Planning and Transportation, Barnsley Council, PO Box 604, Barnsley, S70 9FE. I am the developer of a new site, when should I request a street name and number? Developers should contact the council as soon as work starts on site. If you need any further assistance you should contact us on (01226) 772677 or e-mail snn@barnsley.gov.uk. We will check your suggested street names for duplication in the local area and consult with relevant ward councillors and parish councils. When agreement on the new street name has been reached, we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule. It is our policy to issues street names, which reflect the history of the site or acknowledge the geography of the area. The naming and numbering schedule is then sent to all public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey, and other departments within the council. 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. Please note it is the responsibility of the developer to provide street nameplates for their new developments, and these nameplates must meet the specification determined by Barnsley Council. For further information please telephone the council's Highways department on (01226) 773555. How can I report a damaged street nameplate? You should report the problem to Highways by phoning (01226) 773555. Is it possible to rename or renumber an entire street? Under The Public Health Act 1909, if 66% of occupiers on a street, with over 66% of rateable value of all properties on the street, agree to a street name change an application can be made to the council. The council will then serve notice on all occupiers of the properties involved of the new addresses. In extreme circumstances, it may become necessary to renumber parts or an entire street. This is only done as a last resort and will only generally happen where confusion could arise as a result of new development/properties on an existing street, and there is a resultant need to renumber to accommodate these new properties.