Can I give my house a name or change my house name?
If you already have a postal number for your property but wish to allocate a name as well you will need our approval. 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 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 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.
For any name change please apply here
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. However, in some instances a new road name may need to be allocated.
-
If the property is within a numbered road, then often ABCs are used along with the adjoining number (for example 12A, 12B, 12C...).
-
For new properties in streets with no existing numbered properties, the Council will seek proposals for appropriate property name/s from the applicant. The Council may also allocate a number if appropriate.
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 are required to submit an online application form.
Developing a large estate - how do I name new streets and number properties?
If the development is within a larger scheme please check with the Street Naming department whether a theme has been agreed for the whole site. Please email street.naming@southkesteven.gov.uk
If your development is not within a larger site, you should contact the Parish / Town Council as soon as you commence work on site. This will ensure there is minimal delay in processing your application. Please check our policy for guidance. We will check your suggested street names for duplication within the same Town / Village or in the same postcode locality.
When we have an agreed name, we will then register the street name/s and prepare a numbering schedule. You will 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.
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 do not require a majority to make the change. There is an appeal process, which residents will be notified of. 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 street.naming@southkesteven.gov.uk if you are having problems with Royal Mail please refer to the section at the bottom of this page.
This service is 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 same Town / Village or Postcode Locality.
-
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.
-
Names that are difficult to spell or pronounce are not 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 activate a postcode?
After Royal Mail allocate a postcode they add the new postal address into the Not Yet Built file (NYB). Only when a new property is built, occupied and can receive mail will Royal Mail update the address from the NYB file to the Postcode Address file (PAF)
https://www.poweredbypaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/New_home_flyer_v0.2_KK_updated.pdf
Postcode Finder - Find an address | Royal Mail Group Ltd
Ring Royal Mail on 03456 011110 to update an address from NYB to PAF.
Road name suffixes
|
Acre |
Can refer to a small residential street leading to an open space. |
|
Alley |
Usually refers to a rear service road or pedestrian way used to access garages or gardens. |
|
Approach |
Usually refers to a path or road that leads to a place such as a railway or bus station. |
|
Arch |
Usually refers to a curving street, often in the shape of an arch. Used similar to crescent. |
|
Avenue |
Usually indicates a wide straight road, often tree lined. |
|
Bank |
Usually used for streets that have an edge, embankment or verge. |
|
Boulevard |
Tree or open space lined tree. |
|
Broadway |
A large open or main road. |
|
Brook |
Usually used for residential streets that run near a brook, river or stream. |
|
Brow |
A street on the top of a hill or ridge. |
|
Chase |
Usually used for small residential streets in a valley or for streets built on hunting grounds. |
|
Circus |
Large roundabout or circular road. |
|
Close |
Used for a dead-end street or no through road. |
|
Common |
Refers to residential streets in recreation areas or open parks. |
|
Court |
Often used for streets that form a square or rectangle, similar to the use of Square. |
|
Crescent |
Is usually a short curved street. |
|
Croft |
Usually a short street built on a small farm. |
|
Dale |
Usually refers to a street built in a valley or basin. |
|
Drive |
Used in suburban for both residential and major roadways. |
|
Drove |
Used in rural areas. |
|
End |
Usually associated with a street which comes to a natural end with no further possibility of further development. |
|
Field |
Used for residential streets that run through fields or grassland. |
|
Gardens |
Usually used for a street populated by garden homes. |
|
Gate |
Historical name meaning way through settlement. |
|
Grange |
Linked to historical use or feature in an area. |
|
Green |
Usually a small residential street with a park like setting. |
|
Grove |
Usually a small residential street surrounded by woods. |
|
Heights |
Usually refers to a short residential street that travels uphill or is on top of high ground compared to neighbouring streets. |
|
Hill |
Refers to a street that travels up or upon a hill. |
|
Lane |
Commonly used for narrow roads, especially in the countryside. |
|
Lea |
Usually used for residential streets that run through fields, similar to Fields. |
|
Mead |
Usually used for former grassland site. |
|
Meadow |
Used for residential streets that run through former grassland or fields. |
|
Mews |
Usually used for a small street lined with small houses. Often used as a term for converted stables in a courtyard. |
|
Mile |
A pedestrian way. |
|
Mount |
Usually a street on the top of a hill or ridge. |
|
Nook |
Usually a small street in a corner or recess. |
|
Pasture |
Usually used for residential streets that run through fields. |
|
Passage |
A Pedestrian Way |
|
Path |
A Pedestrian Way |
|
Park |
Streets that contain or run through playing fields, recreation areas, country parks or parks. |
|
Place |
Usually a small residential street, narrow street or open space in a commercial development. |
|
Reach |
Usually associated with a street leading to a river or sea. |
|
Rise |
Refers to a street that goes up or is on top of a hill. |
|
Road |
Very commonly used for any type of street. |
|
Row |
Refers to streets with identical houses but also commonly used for any residential street. |
|
Street |
Very commonly used for any type of road. |
|
Square |
Used for streets that form a square or rectangle. |
|
Terrace |
Usually used for a street lined with small or terraced houses. |
|
Vale |
Usually refers to a street built in a valley or basin. |
|
View |
Used for streets that have a vista or panoramic outlook. |
|
Walk |
Usually designates a pedestrian only way. |
|
Way |
Commonly used for any type of street that links two roads. |
|
Yard |
Often used for streets that form a square or rectangle. |