Address registration, naming or changing your property name
If a property is already numbered, a property owner can additionally name their property without contacting the Council although they are strongly advised to do so in order to avoid conflict with an existing property name in that locality. The property name in this case will not form part of the official property address, and the property number must still be displayed and referred to in any correspondence; for example
'My House' (not part of official address)
1 My Road (official address)
Town
County
Postcode
You need to seek permission from the Council if there is no number allocated in the official address (for example if the property has been allocated a name as part of its official address).
Choosing a property name
In the case of addresses where there is no number allocated, the allocated name does form part of the official address. In this instance property owners wishing to change the property name need to put their request in writing, stating their name, the present full address of the property and their new preferred name. If you are moving into a property and wish to re-name the property following your move, you should indicate your moving date.
We will check our information systems and if the proposed name does not conflict with any other in use in the area, then the new address is registered and you will be informed accordingly. If there is an issue with your preferred name, we will contact you to discuss it.
The property name change information is then sent to Royal Mail, Emergency Services, and relevant Council Services. It is the responsibility of property owners to inform their own personal contacts etc.
Renaming or renumbering a street
On rare occasions it becomes necessary to rename or renumber a street. This is usually only done as a last resort when:
- there is confusion over a street's name and/or numbering
- new properties are built in a street and there is a need for other properties to be renumbered to accommodate the new properties
- the number of named-only properties in a street is deemed to be causing confusion for visitors, the delivery or emergency services
In such instances it is the responsibility of those requesting a change to canvass existing residents and conduct a ballot of the local residents on the issue. This will ensure that residents' views are taken into account and the results must be submitted to the Council. In addition they must consult the Royal Mail for their position on the issue. To change a street name we will require 75% support from the local residents affected on the issue as any subsequent change can be very disruptive and cause individuals to have to change all their personal address details. This is a very time consuming process and can be very emotive for those involved and should therefore only be contemplated as a last resort.
Applying
An individual or developer building new houses, commercial or industrial premises or undertaking conversions which result in the creation of new properties or premises.
The owner of a property can add a name or register a property not previously registered.
Cost:
- property Naming/Renaming £50.00
- new Individual Dwelling £100.00
- developments (more than one plot/property) £100.00 + £10.00 per plot
- changes to development layout after initial notification £10.00 per plot affected
- street renaming at residents request £150.00 + £25.00 per plot
Applications should be made by completing the online form below.
Where there may be problems accurately locating the existing property, a site location plan will be required, with the property clearly marked.
For developments, a layout plan showing the road layout, plot numbers and any suggested house numbers (or names) is also required (maximum size of A3 and submitted in electronic format if possible). For developments that include flats, internal layout plans are also required. Full details of the proposal should be set out clearly in your application.
Applications for new addresses should be submitted as soon as possible after planning permission has been granted. Delays may result in difficulties with marketing and utilities.
Related pages
Related tasks