Street naming and numbering
Overview
Derby City Council has a legal responsibility for the naming and numbering of streets and properties within the council’s administrative area.
We undertake this work under powers contained in legislation:
- Public Health Act 1925 (sections 17-19) – the naming of streets.
- Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847 (sections 64 and 65) – the numbering of properties.
We can charge for the street naming and numbering process under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003.
It is essential that all properties are officially addressed to ensure that:
- emergency vehicles can find a property quickly
- post and parcels are delivered efficiently
- the general public can find where they want to go
- the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) is accurate and up to date.
Register a new property or properties
If planning consent is granted and will result in the construction of a new building or alterations to an existing building, for example subdividing into flats, which needs numbering it is important that the developer or owner email traffic.management@derby.gov.uk. This will ensure that any new addresses are allocated in plenty of time. You will need to provide the number of the approved planning application, plans clearly showing plot numbers, location in relation to existing land and property, and the placement of front doors or primary means of access on each plot.
If a property is not registered officially
If a property is not registered officially, it will not appear on our Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG). Information on the LLPG is shared with several organisations, including Royal Mail, the emergency services, credit agencies, utility companies, and providers of satellite navigation system suppliers. A property not appearing on the LLPG could result in difficulties receiving mail, goods, and services.
It is always best to approach the Council before any numbering is allocated to a property as it is a local authority’s statutory responsibility to issue official addresses within its area.
Property names and numbers
Derby City Council is responsible for the allocation of property numbers. Developments on existing numbered streets will be numbered into the existing sequence so that the house numbers make logical sense at street level to the emergency services, delivery organisations and the general public. If no numbers are available, it will be done by the use of suffixes, for example, 12A, 12B.
All properties will be allocated a number, the only exception will be new properties on an existing street where there is no numbering scheme. In such cases, the property may be named.
By having a number, the property is easily identifiable to the emergency services, delivery organisations and the general public. Therefore, we are unable to accept a name as the main property identifier for an individual dwelling where a number is appropriate. Where the property is an apartment block for example, we encourage the use of a name for the building that reflects its use in addition to its number.
Building and house names
Derby City Council is responsible for allocating building names. Some names are unsuitable for a variety of reasons such as:
- already in use in the area for another building or street
- has no bearing on the property type or usage
- awkward spelling or pronunciation problems
- rude names
- potential to be defamed into another word that may cause offence or be misleading
- may be construed as marketing or advertising.
The building name will need a suffix for example, house, to help distinguish the type of building.
How to register a new street that is part of a development
If planning consent is granted and will result in the construction of a new street which needs naming it is important that the developer or owner email traffic.management@derby.gov.uk. This will ensure that any new addresses are allocated in plenty of time. You will need to provide the number of the approved planning application and plans clearly showing the street layout, plot numbers, location in relation to existing land and property, and the placement of front doors or primary means of access on each plot.
Street names
Derby City Council is responsible for allocating street names. Some names are unsuitable for a variety of reasons such as:
- already in use
- duplication including sounding like a street name already in use albeit spelt differently
- living people
- awkward spelling or pronunciation problems
- rude names
- potential to be defamed into another word that may cause offence or be misleading
- construed as marketing or advertising.
Fees
| Activity | Charges |
|---|---|
| Naming existing properties (charges are for each properties) | |
| Change a house name* | £50 |
| Remove a house name | £50 |
| Change a company name | £50 |
| *Where the owner wishes to choose the name, the authority must be satisfied that the suggested name is appropriate. | |
| Numbering existing properties (charges are for each property) | |
| Change a house number | £50 |
| Remove a house number | £50 |
| Numbering existing properties (charges are for each property) | |
| Change a house number | £50 |
| Remove a house number | £50 |
| Naming or numbering new properties on a new or existing street | |
| 5 properties or less | £130 |
| 6 to 25 properties | £330 |
| 26 to 27 properties | £525 |
| 76 properties | £790 |
| Naming streets | |
| Naming a new street where the authority allocates the name and it will become highway maintainable at public expense | £150 |
| Naming a new street where the applicant suggests the name and it will become highway maintainable at public expense** | £300 |
| Naming a new private street | £300 |
| Renaming a private street | £300 |
| **The authority must be satisfied that the suggested name is appropriate | |
| Confirmation of address to solicitors / conveyances’ / occupiers or owners (Royal Mail – external confirmation) | £25 |
| Renumbering a scheme following development re-plan (after notification of numbering scheme issued) | |
| Unoccupied properties (as for numbering new properties) | £130 - £790 |
| Occupied properties | £50 |