Address Management

Street naming and numbering is an important aspect of modern life that perhaps everyone takes for granted, but it is sufficiently important to need legislation to enforce the requirements of government and local government in this area. The address data held in the councils Local Land and Property Gazetteer and the National Land and Property Gazetteer, which are both continually maintained and updated in accordance with the requirements of BS7666. Further information on the NLPG can be found by visiting www.nlpg.org.uk

Street naming and numbering is a statutory function. The relevant powers for local authorities are contained in Sections 64 and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847, and Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Public Health Act of 1925.  Both Acts are still in force even though they exceed 150 years and 75 years respectively.  The legislation requires the Local Authority to prepare street naming and numbering schemes and to maintain a good standard of street nameplates. Both are essential for the efficient functioning of postal and emergency services as well as for the convenience and safety of the general public.

Public Health Act 1925, S 19 gives authorities the power to insist that the name of every street shall be shown in a conspicuous position and also alter or renew it if it becomes illegible. This section makes it illegal to pull down a street name, which has been lawfully set up, or fixes a notice or advertisement within close proximity to the sign. Anyone found guilty of infringing these requirements is liable to a fine imposed by the Magistrates.

The legislation also give the Council’s the ability to make Regulations about erecting the names of public streets and ensuring that the names and numbers of buildings are displayed by owners in accordance with those regulations.

Naming & Numbering Procedure

New Estates
Most developers are familiar with the Council’s street naming and numbering procedure and will usually apply at an early stage for a numbering and naming scheme. We will ask the developer for suggestions for street names and providing they are not similar to anything already existing in the area we will consult the Parish Council; if they agree with the choice approval will be given.

Sometimes it is not until a developer applies to a public utility company for a service to be connected that it becomes apparent that a postal address has not be agreed. As the utility companies will not connect their service until the Council has allocated an address, the developer will soon seek to rectify this!

Following agreement with the developer to the proposed street naming and numbering, Royal Mail is asked to allocate postcodes. Royal Mail will not issue a postcode until informed by the local authority that an address has been allocated. The address is not complete without the correct postcode.

When the street name has been agreed a layout plan and a street numbering and naming schedule is prepared which allocates a number and street name to the developer’s plot number. Purchasers of new properties should be careful when passing on their new address details that they are using the postal number and not the plot number, as the two are not necessarily the same.  They should also check that what they believe is the official street name is in fact just the developer’s site name.  It is not always possible to issue numbers as the developer may erect properties in various locations throughout the site.  The council will not issue numbers where properties have yet to be erected.  It could be many months or even years before you receive an official number in which case you may chose to name your property but always check with the Council’s Building Control Section.

Individual Properties
Individual properties are generally built on infill land, large gardens, or on the site of previously demolished properties. These will be numbered within the existing sequence if possible and letter suffixes (e.g. 16A) will be used if necessary. Where building takes place on the site of a demolished property, the new building may inherit the existing number.

Road Adoption (Section 38)

A common way of creating new highways is by an agreement between developers and the local Highway Authority (Lincolnshire County Council) under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980.

These agreements are most often made with housing developers, who agree to build the roads to standards laid down by the Highway Authority. In return Lincolnshire County Council agrees to adopt the roads and to maintain them thereafter as public highways. However, until a road has been adopted it remains private and the responsibility of the developer/house owners.

It is the developer’s responsibility to erect the street name boards in accordance with the signed agreement and approved street name.  If you are purchasing a new property you should ask your legal advisor for further advice.

Street Nameplates

When a road is built as part of a new development it is the responsibility of the developer to arrange for the installation of a street nameplate to the appropriate specification.  Recommendations for the design and installation of street nameplates can be found on Appendix A and B of the Department of Transport Circular - Circular Roads 3/93 that can be viewed on the Department of Transport website.

We will take over responsibility for maintaining the nameplate once the street has been adopted.

Postcodes

East Lindsey Council is not responsible for issuing new postcodes. This is the responsibility of Royal Mail. However they will not issue a postcode for a new street or property until requested to do so by the Council.

Postcodes for commercial premises are allocated in the same way as residential premises, but a large company or business can apply to Royal Mail for its own code – known as a large user code. Application for a large user code is the responsibility of the user, as they will know what volume of mail they generate.

Inquiries about postcodes can be dealt with direct at:

Royal Mail Address Development Centre
Castle Foregate
SHREWSBURY
SY1 1AA

Phone: 08456 045060
Fax: 08456 054433
Email: addressdevelopment@royalmail.com

Searches for postcodes can also be carried out on the Royal Mail Website: www.royalmail.com/portal/rm

Building Names

The Council has no power to agree or refuse a building name. We do however request that you contact the Building Control Section in writing informing them of your chosen name.

Download the House Naming Form here.

The Council's Street Naming Officer will:-

• Check the name against our database, to make sure no one else has registered the name in the area.
• We will then confirm in writing the acceptance of the name.
• We will also send you a list of Statutory Bodies who may need to be notified.
• We will enter the new name in the councils National Land & Property Gazetteer.

Any name chosen should not be similar to any other in the immediate locality and advice will be given on this.

We have no objection to a house name being added to an existing postal address but it cannot replace the street number, which must always used.

House names alone are not favoured by the Council or the emergency services as a number readily identifies the location of a property in a road. The only exception to this will be on the occasions, particularly in rural areas, where a street numbering sequence does not exist. When this does occur, we will accept the use of a building name to identify the property.

Street numbers and building names should always be prominently displayed where they can be easily read from the public highway.

Please remember if the name or number is not clearly displayed the emergency services may not be able to locate your property.

Renaming & Renumbering

Under Section 18 of the Public Health Act 1925 the Council can alter the name and numbers of any street if there is a particular need to do so.  You should contact your Parish or Town Council who will need to agree a scheme with the residents.  The Parish or Town Council will then make an application to the Council for a street name change. We will give careful consideration to the reasons for the request and give a decision after consultation with the emergency services and Royal Mail. If the scheme is implemented each occupier will be notified together with advice on what action to take.

If you require any further information or advice then please contact the Building Control Section

Tel: 01507 601111 or e-mail building.control@e-lindsey.gov.uk