Street naming and numbering

• When do I need to submit a request for new street naming and numbering?
• Why do I need to submit a request?
• What is the process for new street naming and numbering?
• How are street names and numbers chosen?
• What is the process for renaming or renumbering existing streets?
• How do I name an individual property?
• How do I change an existing address or postcode?

Herefordshire Council's Building Control Service carries out the function of street naming and numbering for all streets and roads within the county, as well as cycleways and footpaths where they form a frontage to any new or existing buildings. The process is conducted pursuant to legislation contained within the Public Health Act 1925 and the Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847.

When do I need to submit a request for new street naming and numbering?

The requirement for street naming and numbering normally comes about following the development of new residential, commercial or industrial premises in the following circumstances:

• Where a development creates new buildings with a frontage facing onto new roads
• Where a development introduces new buildings into an established street or road which already has a numbering system (for instance, in-fill developments)
• Where an existing building is converted to create a greater number of properties or premises than was previously the case

The process can range from large developments consisting of many roads and hundreds of properties to smaller developments of just a few houses or flats.

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Why do I need to submit a request?

The address of a property is very important as it enables:

• Emergency Services to find a property quickly
• Mail and other services/products to be delivered efficiently and accurately
• Visitors to find where they want to go.
• Records of utility companies to be established and maintained in an efficient manner

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What is the process for new street naming and numbering?

1. The developer responsible for the new properties should submit an application in writing containing the following:
   • A plan or plans, as appropriate, showing the new properties, the plot numbers used during construction and any new or existing roads associated with the development.
   • In the case of multi-storey flats and the like, floor plans of each storey showing individual units and the plot numbers used.
   • A list of suggested names (if any). In the absence of any suggestions we may suggest names, usually following consultation with the Parish Council.
2. We will make an initial assessment of the proposed names to establish whether there are any likely objections. Assuming none are identified at this stage then a logical numbering sequence is applied to the development, taking account, wherever possible, of any preferences expressed by the developer. The proposed naming and numbering scheme is then forwarded to the Parish Council and to the Royal Mail Address Management Service for their comments. In particular, the Royal Mail will assess the likelihood for confusion arising from any existing addresses in the area similar to those proposed. A five week consultation period is allowed for the return of comments.
   
   If any valid objections have been raised either during our initial assessment or during the consultation period then we will liaise with the developer to select suitable alternatives. The consultation process is then repeated until there are no valid objections.
3. At this stage the finalised scheme is returned to Royal Mail Address Management who will register it on their address database and issue postcodes as appropriate. The details are also entered by the council onto the Local Land and Property Gazetteer, which in turn links to the definitive index of land and property in England and Wales, known as the National Land and Property Gazetteer.
4. Finally we notify all interested parties, including:
   • The developer
   • Occupants of properties affected (if the properties have been occupied)
   • HM Land Registry
   • The Police, Fire and Ambulance Services
   • The relevant utility companies (water, electricity, telephone)
   • The Council Tax Valuation Office

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How are street names and numbers chosen?

Subject to the consultation process, the naming and numbering scheme can be as proposed by the applicant or, in the absence of any suggestions, as put forward by our street naming team. Each case will be judged according to individual circumstances, but in all cases the choice of names and numbers should follow certain principles:

Street and road names

1. Preference is given to names which relate to one or more of the following:
   • Links to historical events or figures locally.
   • The continuation where appropriate of existing themes within local street names.
   • The natural environment locally.
   • Local industrial, sporting or twinning themes.
2. Roads or streets should not be named after living people.
3. To avoid confusion, a name should not be the same as or similar to any other existing or proposed road/street name (for instance, Wyebank Lane and Wyebank Road would be considered too similar to be within the same locality).
4. Any names which have a foreseeable risk of causing offence to individuals or to sectors of a community are to be avoided.
5. Names likely to present regular problems in pronunciation and/or spelling should be avoided wherever possible.

Numbering schemes

In all cases, properties are numbered as part of the road or street which runs along their front elevation.

If it seems appropriate to treat a new development as a continuation of an existing road or street then the existing numbering sequence should continue. In all other cases the numbering sequence should begin with number 1 and will continue progressively, following what is considered to be the logical sequence for those approaching on foot or by vehicle.

Where properties run along both sides of the street, the numbering shall run progressively, with odd numbers to the left and even numbers to the right. In cases where the properties are on one side only, both odd and even numbers shall follow sequentially along that side.

Small cul-de-sac arrangements would normally be numbered sequentially from the left in a clockwise direction.

All sequential numbers will be used, with the exception of number 13 which can be omitted to prevent that property being blighted in the eyes of those who may be superstitious.

The use of letters with numbers (for example 3A, 3B etc.) is to be avoided wherever possible, but may be the only option in some cases. In-fill developments within an existing street usually create difficulties in this respect. The possibility of giving the in-fill development a street name in its own right can be explored (for instance, where several new in-fill properties are accessed via a separate driveway or access road off the main street), but in all other cases the numbering system of the existing street should be adopted with letter suffixes alongside the numbers, beginning with the letter 'A' (so an in-fill development of 3 new dwellings between existing house numbers 3 and 5 becomes 3A, 3B and 3C).

Naming and numbering of flats

There are several possible approaches to the naming and numbering of flats depending on the size, nature and location of the development:
Small developments of flats within an existing street can be numbered as described for in-fill developments above (for instance, an existing house number 42 being converted into 3 flats can become flats 42A, 42B & 42C as part of the existing street numbering sequence).

Larger developments of flats (particularly newly built ones) should where possible be given a single name (even when forming part of an existing street) and then numbered with their own sequence. So for instance, a development of 9 new flats on an existing street named Castle Street is given the name Dean Court. The new addresses then become Flats 1-9, Dean Court, Castle Street.

Flats should be numbered starting from the ground floor and working upwards in a logical sequence. In higher rise blocks of flats (4 or more storeys) reference to the storey as part of the flat number can help emergency services to quickly identify where a particular flat is. For instance in a block with 5 flats per storey the ground floor becomes flats 001-005, the first floor becomes 101-105, the second floor 201-205 and so on.

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What is the process for renaming or renumbering existing streets?

On rare occasions it may be necessary to renumber or rename an existing street or part of a street. This is only done as a last resort where:

• There is confusion over a street's name and/or numbering
• A significant number of residents are unhappy with their street name
• Significant new development in a street necessitates existing properties to be renumbered to maintain a logical sequence
• The number of name-only properties is causing confusion for emergency services, visitors, deliveries etc.

In these cases, we will contact existing residents and their views taken into account. If deemed appropriate, we will undertake a resident’s ballot and a two-thirds majority in favour will need to be demonstrated before the change can be considered. We will then carry out third party consultations with any interested parties (parish council, emergency services, utility providers etc.) to ensure that there are no valid objections to the change. The council will not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the process of re-naming existing streets.

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How do I name an individual property?

Where a single new property has been created as a result of new development or conversion and that property does not fall within the numbering system of any existing road or street (usually rural locations) then it will generally be more appropriate to give that property a name rather than a number.

In these cases there is no requirement to make an application to the street naming team and the street naming/numbering process will not be invoked. The property owner can deal directly with the Royal Mail Address Management Team to register the name and obtain a postcode and the council’s street naming team does not need to become involved. The owner has the responsibility to notify certain other bodies, including the council's Electoral Services Department.

Where the property does fall within the numbering scheme of an existing street, however, the property must be numbered as part of that street even if it is the owner’s preference that it be given a name. The owner can adopt a name for the property if they wish but this must be in addition to the property number, which will remain the official address and must be clearly displayed.

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How do I change an existing address or postcode?

To change an existing house name, or register a new property that is not a development, please contact Electoral Services.

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