Guidance for developers
Street naming and numbering procedure
Suggestions for new street names should ideally reflect the local area or have a connection with the development site. Names will not be considered if they have been duplicated or are similar to others in the near vicinity, nor if they are after a living person. Proposals from the public are welcome and will be considered along with any others submitted, however the developer has the right to choose the final name(s).
Once a new street name has been agreed we will register it and contact Royal Mail for new postcodes. We will prepare a numbering schedule and plan and will notify statutory bodies such as the emergency services, Royal Mail, the Land Registry and relevant Council services of the changes. It may take a few months for address changes or new addresses to appear on the databases of other companies and organisations.
A request to rename/renumber a road must be submitted to us in writing. You can complete our form.
The developer will be sent a copy of the naming and numbering schedule showing plot to postal numbers (postal numbers will often be different to plot numbers) and it is their responsibility to inform all purchasers/tenants of their new property address.
Where appropriate, developers will be asked to provide new street nameplates to our standard design. It is very important that nameplates for new streets are erected before any property becomes occupied to enable the properties to be easily located. This is especially important in the instance of the emergency services being called out.
Property numbers (not plot numbers) need to be shown on the new properties as soon as possible to enable them to be easily located.
On rare occasions, it may be necessary to rename or renumber a street. This is only done as a last resort when:
- there is confusion over a street name and/or numbering;
- a group of residents are unhappy with their street name as it is causing confusion/problems;
- new properties are built in a street and there is a need for existing 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 emergency services, deliveries or visitors.
Residents will be informed of the proposal and their views will be taken into account before proceeding. A formal notice will be posted on site for 21 days and providing no objections have been received, the renaming / renumbering will be approved.
Addressing developments
If you are building a new development, residential or otherwise, applications for new addresses should be submitted to us as soon as work commences on site. This is especially important in the case of new street names as it can take a considerable amount of time from receiving a proposed name until it is formally adopted.
You need to
- complete and submit an application form along with a copy of the site layout plan indicating the new properties in relation to any existing properties
The plan should show
- the road layouts
- plot layouts
- plot numbers
- front doors
This will help us to number the properties in a logical order. If flats are part of the development you should include floor plans with your application.
You should provide the approved planning application number and the building regulations reference if you can. You will need to liaise with the local town/ parish council (if available) to agree new street names. If your development is in the unparished area of Braintree, we will consult a local historian and seek street name suggestions for you.
We will check your suggested street name(s) for duplication in the local area and advise you of any issues.
Once a new street name has been agreed we will advertise it on site for a period of 21 days to allow for objections.
After this time has elapsed we will contact Royal Mail for new postcodes. We will prepare a numbering schedule and plan and will notify statutory bodies such as the emergency services, Valuation Office, Royal Mail, the Land Registry and relevant Council services of the changes.
You will be sent a copy of the naming and numbering schedule showing plot to postal numbers (postal numbers will often be different to plot numbers) and ask that you inform all your purchasers/tenants of their new property address. It may take a few months for address changes or new addresses to appear on the databases of other companies and organisations.
Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street nameplates to our standard design. It is very important that nameplates for new streets are erected before any property becomes occupied to enable the properties to be easily located. This is especially important in the instance of the emergency services being called out. We are happy to advise on street nameplate locations if required.
Property numbers (not plot numbers) need to be shown on the new properties as soon as possible to enable them to be easily located.
It is important that you notify Royal Mail when the properties become occupied so that postcodes can be activated.
You must not proceed with any naming or numbering scheme without our approval in writing.
Addressing a single property
If you are building a new property, an application for a new address should be submitted to us as soon as work commences on site.
You need to complete and submit an application form along with a site layout plan indicating the new property in relation to any existing properties. We also need to know where the front door will be to enable us to address the property correctly. This is especially important if the property is on the corner of two different roads.
If the property is in a numbered street the next logical number will be allocated to it, often with a suffix, for example 3A. If the property is not in a numbered street, then the developer or owner is asked to suggest a name for the property. The name will be checked to ensure it does not conflict with any others within the local vicinity.
Once we have obtained a postcode from Royal Mail we will send you a letter to confirm the new postal address and we will notify statutory bodies such as the emergency services, Royal Mail and the Land Registry. It may take a few months for address changes or new addresses to appear on the databases of other companies and organisations.
Property numbers or names need to be shown on the new properties as soon as possible to enable them to be easily located.
We cannot provide an address for a piece of land simply to enable deliveries for example, where livestock are located.
Street nameplates
We are responsible for providing and maintaining street nameplates for roads which have been adopted in the district. However, it is the developer's responsibility to provide appropriate street nameplates for any new developments. Our guidance notes give advice on appropriate sizing and fonts to be used on new nameplates.
Street names and building names and numbers must always be prominently displayed where they can be easily read from the public highway.
National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG)
We maintain a Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) for the Braintree district, which is a database listing property and pieces of land. All local authorities in England and Wales are obliged to maintain an LLPG for their area and submit information from it to a central property database.
Keeping address information up to date
It is vital that we keep information on all the addresses in the Braintree district up to date as this gets passed on to the emergency services, Royal Mail and consequently other delivery companies.
Any errors could lead to a delay in important services reaching your door.
Contact us to notify us of any changes you wish to make to any property names or perhaps have made in the past.
Advising a solicitor alone of a property name change will not necessarily result in your postal address being changed officially unless your solicitor also advises us.
Royal Mail will only change property names on their website if they are asked to do so by the local authority.