Street Naming and Numbering

Can I give my house a name?

If you already have a postal number for your property but wish to allocate a name as well, the name may only be used on an informal basis and will not be officially registered by the council. A name cannot replace your number. Your property will always be known by the number which must be clearly displayed on the front of your property. We recommend against displaying a name on your property because omitting postal numbers in place of a name causes complications for deliveries as well as for the emergency services.

If your property has a name and not a postal number and you wish to change the name of the property, you will need our approval. We will only consider changing the name of a property if the existing name is causing confusion in locating the property. We cannot duplicate existing building names, duplicate building names with street names or allocate building names that replicate a business name or could be seen as advertising.

Can I name my house without contacting the council?

If a property is already numbered, a property owner can additionally name their property without contacting the Council as long as it does not conflict with an existing property name in that locality. The property name in this case will not officially form part of the 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 only need to seek permission from the Council if there is no number allocated in the official address (ie. if the property has been allocated a name as part of its official address).

How do I name my house when I have no house number?

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 submit a Street Naming request form, stating their name, the present full address of the property and state clearly their new preferred name.

We will contact Royal Mail to see if they have knowledge of a similar named property in the locality. We check our information systems and if the name is satisfactory, then the new address is registered and you will be informed accordingly. If there is an issue with your preferred name, we will request alternatives.

The property name change information is then sent to Royal Mail, Emergency and Essential Services and other relevant Council Services. It is the responsibility of property owners to inform their own personal contacts etc.

This service may be chargeable.

Developing a single property/small development - how do I number properties?

If you are a developer of a new property (single or small development), you should contact us as soon as you commence work on site. A single or small development will usually be named or numbered into the existing street. If the property is within a numbered road, then often ABCs are used along with the adjoining number (for example 12A, 12B, 12C...).

If the street has named properties, then the development plot numbers will be used initially to register the property address and subsequently, when the new owner chooses a name, we will follow our standard process of Property Name Change. The information is then sent to public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and relevant Council services. You will also be sent a copy of the registered address from which we would ask you to inform your prospective purchasers of their new property address. You can submit a Street Naming request form online.

Developing a large estate - how do I name new streets and number properties?

If you are a developer of a large estate, you should contact us as soon as you commence work on site so that we can process the naming of any new streets and the numbering of your new properties without delay. We will check your suggested street names for duplication in the local area and forward them to Royal Mail for consultation.

When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule. The information is then sent to public utilities, emergency services, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey and relevant Council services. You will also be sent a copy of the naming and numbering schedule from which we would ask you to inform all your prospective purchasers of their new property address. Where appropriate, you will be asked to provide new street name plates to our standard design and a cost will be provided at the appropriate time. You can submit a Street Naming request form online.

What happens if a street needs renaming/renumbering?

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
• a group of residents are unhappy with their street name
• 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

Existing residents will be contacted and their views taken into account. We will then consult the Royal Mail for their position on the issue. To change a street name we will ballot the local residents on the issue. Hopefully there will be 100% support, but we require at least a two-thirds majority to make the change. This a very time consuming process and we are only able to progress one of these issues at any time.

However if you think you have a street naming issue, please email naming.numbering@ribblevalley.gov.uk if you are having problems with Royal Mail please refer to the section at the bottom of this page.

This service may be chargeable.

How are new street names chosen?

Where new roads are to be constructed, developers can suggest suitable names to the council based upon the following rules.

Where possible names should reflect the history of the site or acknowledge the geography of the area.

• Names cannot be duplicated in the borough.
• Names of living or deceased people are not allowed.
• Names that could be seen as advertising are not acceptable.
• Suggested names need to be sufficiently unique to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.
• Names that could be considered offensive will not be accepted.

How can I check a postcode?

By using the postcode/address finder service on the Royal Mail website. Addresses in the Not Yet Built (NYB) file are not displayed on the postcode/address finder service.

How can I complain about mail delivery problems?

By using 'I want to report a problem with my mail delivery service' on the Royal Mail website or by contacting Royal Mail Customer Services. Royal Mail is responsible for mail delivery not the council.

Please remember if you do not display your property number you will make it difficult for Royal Mail to find your property.