Guidance on street naming and numbering

We are the street naming and numbering authority for the area. We carry out these functions under the provisions of sections 17-29 of the Public Health Act 1925.

Please refer to guidance below by clicking on the appropriate link if you want to change or allocate a new address to your property.

Existing properties

Who can request to name or rename a property?
Changing the name of a property
Adding or changing the name to a numbered property
Renaming a street
Renumbering a property
Fees - existing properties

Naming and numbering of new development – including sub-division of existing properties

New property naming and/or numbering process
Naming of new streets
Criteria for naming new streets
Fees - new addresses
Discount to developers using Runnymede Building Control
Worked example of calculating fees

Postcodes

Property numbering policy

How to apply for the street naming and numbering service

List of essential service providers

 

Existing properties

Who can request to name or rename a property? 

We can only process a request to change the address of a property from the owner of a property or their appointed agent.  We cannot accept requests from prospective purchasers of properties before the exchange of contracts has taken place.  Nor can we accept requests from the tenants of a property.  

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Changing the name of an unnumbered property

The Royal Mail Address Development Centre has a policy that it will not allow properties within the same postcode area to have the same or a similar name to an existing property name.  We recommend that you provide us with a list of three names in order of preference for Royal Mail to approve.  This will reduce delays in case your preferred choice is not acceptable to Royal Mail.  Please contact the naming and numbering team for further information on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk 

Once the name has been approved by Royal Mail, we will then write to you of this fact and also circulate the new address details to a list of essential service providers.
 
For application fees please refer to application fees table.  For details of how to make an application refer to How to apply for the street naming and numbering service.

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Adding or changing the name to a numbered property

If your property has a number then that number forms part of its identification and official address. Because of this, you must always include this number in your address. You may, if you want, add a name to your property and include it in the address however it will neither form part of the official address nor prevent any other property in the same area to use the same name. If you wish the name to be included in Royal Mail's address database you need to apply to us to arrange for this to be done. Subject to Royal Mail Address Development Centre's approval the name will be held on their database as an "Alias".  Please contact the Naming and Numbering team for further information on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk

The Royal Mail Address Development Centre has a policy that it will not allow properties within the same postcode area to have the same or a similar name to an existing property name.  We recommend that you provide us with a list of three names in order of preference for Royal Mail to approve. This will reduce delays in case your preferred choice is not acceptable to Royal Mail.

Once the name has been approved by Royal Mail, the name will be entered onto their database and will be held as an "Alias".  We will then write to you of this fact and also circulate the new address details to a list of essential service providers.

For application fees please refer to application fees table.  For details of how to make an application refer to How to apply for the street naming and numbering service.

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Renaming a street

It is possible for residents in a street to request that the street is renamed or renumbered.  It will be appreciated that changing a street name or renumbering all properties causes a great deal of inconvenience for residents and some temporary confusion for visitors and those making delivering to that street.  Consequently the Council is reluctant to make changes without good reason.  We will therefore only consider such requests where;

• the name or the numbering is causing confusion for the emergency services or Royal Mail
• the sub-division or construction of properties in a street leads to a confused numbering scheme
• at least two thirds of the residents support the changes.

The renaming and renumbering of a street involves a legal process and any resident who objects to the proposal has the right of appeal to a Magistrates Court.  This process can be time consuming and we will require that the Council's costs are paid for by the residents requesting the changes.  These costs will depend on the individual circumstances of each request.  Please contact the Naming and Numbering team for further information on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk

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Renumbering a property

In normal circumstances we do not renumber properties that have already been numbered.  However, if it can be shown that the existing numbering system is causing confusion or difficulty in locating a property then we will consider renumbering.  We will not normally charge for undertaking the renumbering in such circumstances

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Fees - existing properties

The administration fees for naming or changing the name or number of a property are not subject to VAT and are as show below:

Activity	Charge
Individual Property Naming or Re-naming including notification	£60
Amendment to newly approved naming and numbering scheme	£60 admin fee plus £15 per plot requiring re-numbering
Renaming a Street: Requested by residents including notification	Price available upon enquiry

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Naming and numbering of new development – including sub-division of existing properties

New property naming and/or numbering process

In some area of Runnymede, we have not implemented a street number scheme and properties have only a name to identify them. In such cases it is acceptable to use the property name on its own as the property's identifier.  The preferred name has to be approved by Royal Mail Address Development Centre.  When making an application for a plot or development to be numbered, you must provide us with the following information:

• Planning application number – applications can only be processed subject to full planning permission; without this an address will not be allocated.
• location drawings clearly showing:
  - plot numbers,
  - locations in relation to existing land and property
  - and the setting of front doors or primary access to each plot.
• internal layout plans, if appropriate, for a development that is sub-divided into units, indicating each individual unit and its floor level.
• Building Regulation Number, once available to indicate that works has commenced.

If you wish to have your development named, we recommend that you provide us with a list of three names in order of preference for Royal Mail to approve. This will reduce delays in case your preferred choice is not acceptable to Royal Mail.  

For an infill development of two or more properties accessed from a private drive, we may decide to give the development a property group name e.g. 1-3 New Court, Existing Street. Please contact the Naming and Numbering team for further information on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk

Once the name/numbering has been approved by Royal Mail, the details will be entered onto their database.  We will then write to you of this fact and also circulate the new address details to a list of essential service providers.

For application fees please refer to application fees table.  For details of how to make an application refer to How to apply for the street naming and numbering service.

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Naming new streets

As the owner, the developer or their agent of a new development that includes the creation of one or more new roads or streets, you should contact us as soon as planning permission is granted or shortly afterward.  

Your proposed names will be checked against the Council's street names database to ensure that there are no streets with the same or similar names already in use within the same postcode area. The proposed names will then be forwarded to the Ward Councillors and Historical Societies for consideration. The Ward Councillors will consider and approve the recommended street name.  In the event that the proposed names do not meet our criteria for naming streets we reserve the right to alter the proposal.  In which case, we will forward those suggestions to you for information.  We will officially allocate the street name and a postcode from Royal Mail Address Development Centre.

All costs for the supply and erection of signs for new street nameplates will be borne by the property developer. The name of the supplier and specification will be communicated with the street name approval confirmation. Please contact the Naming and Numbering team for further information on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk
 
When making an application for a plot or development to be numbered, you must provide us with the following information:

• Planning application number – applications can only be processed subject to full planning permission; without this an address will not be allocated.
• location drawings clearly showing:
  - plot numbers,
  - locations in relation to existing land and property
  - and the placement of front doors or primary access to each plot.
• internal layout plans, if appropriate, for a development that is sub-divided into units, indicating each individual unit and its floor level.
• Building Regulation Number, once available to indicate that works has commenced.

Once the name/numbering has been approved by Royal Mail, the details will be entered onto their database.  We will then write to you of this fact and also circulate the new address details to a list of essential service providers.

 For application fees please refer to application fees table.  For details of how to make an application refer to  How to apply for the street naming and numbering service.

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Criteria for naming streets

• the Council gives preference to names which reflect the historical significance of the site or its locality
• new street names should not duplicate or be similar to any name already in use in the same postcode area.  A variation in the terminal word, for example "Street", "Road" or "Avenue" will not be accepted as sufficient reason to duplicate a name
• repeat the name either for an existing or new road as the name of a building
• street names should not be difficult to pronounce or awkward to spell
• street names must not cause offences, having particular regard to the six standards of the Council's Equality Policy covering race, disability, gender, age, faith & belief and sexual orientation
• the Council will not adopt any unofficial 'marketing' titles used by the developers
• buildings (including those on corner sites) are numbered according to the street upon which the main entrance is to be found
• streets can be named after people related to the area or site. However, such names will only be considered if the person in question is deceased.

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Fees - new addresses

Please note these prices are not subject to VAT

Activity	Charge
New Development of first plot	£60
New Development for plots 2-5	£30 per plot
New Development for plots 6-10	£25 per plot
New Development for plots 11-20	£20 per plot
New Development for plots  21 and greater	£15 per plot
Additional Charge, where this includes naming of a street	£100 per street
Additional charge where this includes the naming of a building (e.g. block of flats)	£100 per block

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Discount to developers using Runnymede Building Control

Those developers who use Runnymede Building Control as their Building Control Body will be entitled to a 10% discount applied to the above charges against confirmation of Building Control reference number.

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Worked example:

If the application is of a new development of 12 plots the cost of the application would be

First plot:	£60x1 =	£60
Plots 2–5:	£30x4 =	£120
Plots 6-10:	£25x5 =	£125
Plots 11-12:	£20x2 =	£40
Total		£345

Should Runnymede Building Control be used as the Building Control Body for this development then the fees payable would be £345 x 90% = £310.50.

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Postcodes

The allocation of postcodes is the responsibility of Royal Mail.  However, if you require a postcode or you have a query about your postcode you need to contact us and we will liaise with Royal Mail.  The exception to this is if you receive large volumes of mail and you require an individual postcode.  In such cases you will need to liaise with Royal Mail directly yourself.

You should note that Royal Mail allocate postcodes solely for the purposes of their delivery of mail.  They will not consider making changes to a postcode to facilitate individuals, say for example, to help users of satellite navigation systems.

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Property numbering policy

When numbering properties, or units within a property, we do not omit any numbers.  Different cultures each have their own lucky and unlucky numbers and it is not possible to take all those numbers considered to be inauspicious into account when we implement a property numbering scheme.

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How to apply for the street naming and numbering service

We require that any application for our Naming and Numbering Service is in writing.  However, we do accept applications by e-mail at  streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk, and this is our preferred means of communication.

We do not have an application form.  All you need to do is provide us with the following information (as appropriate to your application).

• your name, address, daytime telephone number, and, if you have one, your e-mail address
• where you are applying for a property to be named or renamed your list of three names in order of preference (first to last)
• where a development includes the creation of one or more new streets, a list of suggested names for these streets.
• for new developments, the approved planning application number (this has the form RU.12/1234), location and layout plans as specified above
• if you are the owner of the property, a declaration that this is the case.  Alternatively, if you act as the agent for the owner, either a letter or e-mail from the owner confirming that you act as their agent.

For new developments you should make application to us as early as possible for the developments new addresses.  Once the process has been agreed by Royal Mail, they will enter the addresses of the development on their Not Yet Built (NYB) database.  when the development is complete you should notify Royal Mail of this fact directly and they will transfer the information onto their Property Address File (PAF).

We will only process your application when we receive all required information and payment of the correct fee. All cheques should be made to Runnymede Borough Council. Please contact us if you are unsure of the correct fee, prior to submitting your application so as to avoid delays on 01932 838383 or at streetname-number@runnymede.gov.uk

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List of essential service providers

Once a new/changed address has been confirmed by Royal Mail, we liaise with the following agencies to inform them of the change so they can amend their records.

• Runnymede Borough Council’s internal departments
• BT
• EDF Energy
• GTC-Utility Network
• Land Registry
• Ordnance Survey
• Local Royal Mail Sorting Office
• Scottish and Southern Energy
• Surrey County Council
• Surrey Fire and Rescue
• Surrey Police
• South East Coast Ambulance Service
• Valuation Office
• Virgin Media
• Wentworth Estate Roads Committee (for properties on Wentworth Estate).

It is your responsibility to inform any other bodies that you think are appropriate.

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