We're responsible for allocating property numbers and street names for new developments and building conversions in the borough. This includes for new housing developments, individual residential or commercial properties, and conversions of existing properties (such as converting a house into flats).

If a property hasn't been registered by us, it won't appear on the main address database used by councils, Royal Mail, emergency services, credit reference agencies, and other businesses. The occupier will then have problems receiving mail and when using their address to apply for goods and services.

Who can apply

You can apply to register new street names and property numbers if you're an individual or a developer and you're:

• building new houses, commercial or industrial premises

• converting an existing residential, commercial or industrial premise to create new properties, or consolidating flats and sub-dwellings into one property

When to apply

You need to apply for new street naming and property numbering in the early stages of your build. We'll only accept your application if planning permission for your development has already been granted. You'll need to provide a copy of your planning approval letter as evidence of this when you apply.

Don't apply for street naming and property numbering before planning approval has being granted. If you do, we may reject your application and you may not receive a refund of the fee.

What you'll need

As part of your application you need to provide a full location and site plan for your development. This may be similar to the plan you provided when completing your planning application. The location plan should be to scale (1:1250, 1:1000 or 1:500) and show:

• existing road names and property numbers

• points of postal delivery (marked with an arrow)

• enough of the surrounding area so we know where the site is located, and can reference this to Ordnance Survey maps

For multi-storey buildings you also need to upload a floor plan showing plot numbers for each level, doors and access points.

Fees

The fee to register new street names is £50 per street. The fees for property numbering depend on the number of properties being registered.

Criteria for street and property naming

If new roads will be constructed as part of your development, you can suggest street names for these. You may also want to suggest property names.

 Suggested street and property names:

• cannot be duplicated within the same locality

• must be sufficiently unique to avoid confusion

• should reflect the history of the site or acknowledge the geography of the area if possible

• cannot be the name of a person (living or dead)

• must not endorse commercial marketing

• should not be able to be misconstrued into an inappropriate meaning

• must be standard spellings - modified or non‑standard spellings (such as 'nite' instead of 'night') may not be accepted

We have the right to reject any suggested street or property names if they don't meet the criteria. We may also suggest alternatives.

What happens after you've applied

It can take six to eight weeks for your application to be processed. Applications are processed on a first-come first-served basis, and we're unable to prioritise specific applications.

If your development includes new street names, we'll notify councillors of these who have a consultation period of 14 days (with the option to extend this to 28 days). Councillors have the right to reject proposed street names, so a decision on these won't be finalised until after this period.

When we've allocated a new postal address and/or a new street name, we'll notify all relevant and statutory authorities and emergency organisations, as well as Royal Mail who will allocate the postcode. All addresses are allocated in accordance with British Standard 7666:2006.

We won't provide you with regular updates while we're processing your application, but we will notify you when we request postcodes from Royal Mail and when the addresses are officially registered.

How to apply

You can apply and pay for new street naming and property numbering using our online form below. You'll need to upload your location and site plan, proof of planning permission, and floor plan (if applicable) in the form.

Changing an existing application

If you've already applied to register new street names or property numbers but need to increase or reduce the number of these, you can request to amend your application.

In the form you'll need to tell us the number of extra or fewer streets and properties, and upload a new site plan.