Street naming and numbering - Print version

New street names and numbers

Street name guidance

Please refer to Coventry City Council's Street Naming and Numbering Policy

We will consider developers' suggested road names or if they have none, suggest some for them.

The following guides apply:

1. New street names should avoid repeating any similar street name already in use in the city. A difference in the final word (Street, Road or Avenue) will not be enough to allow the name to be repeated. If names are repeated it can cause problems for emergency services and utility and delivery companies.
2. Suggested names need to be different enough to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.
3. Names of living people are not normally allowed.
4. Where possible names should reflect the history of the site or geography of the area.
5. Names that could be seen as advertising are not acceptable.
6. Names that could be considered offensive will not be accepted.

Street naming process

Once the names have been agreed, we will contact Royal Mail and the West Midlands Fire Service for their agreement.
When they have agreed these names, we will consult with ward councillors for the area.
Following agreement of the road names the development will be numbered and the Royal Mail contacted to provide postcodes.
We will then issue the addresses to the developer and to all the other relevant bodies that need to know.

Street numbering

For all new development sites and for infill plots in numbered roads, the Local Authority will apply the numbering process to all new properties. Properties will be numbered and addressed from the street where they have the main access.

Houses with names (No postal number allocated)

If your property has a name and not a number and you wish to change the name of the property, you will need our approval. It could cause confusion if more than one property in the same road or area has the same name. Emergency services could also be delayed in finding your property.

When a new apartment block needs a name as well as postal numbers the rules for street names will apply.

Houses with postal numbers and a name

If you have a postal number for your property and wish to give it a name as well, it may only be used on an informal basis and will not be registered by us.

Replacing a postal number with a name causes problems for deliveries and emergency services.

You can display the name on your property and use the name in the address along with the postal number, but your property will always be known by the number.

Who should apply?

• Individuals or developers building new houses, commercial or industrial premises.
• Individuals or developers carrying out conversions of residential, commercial or industrial premises which will create new properties or premises.

Procedures for new developments

Developers are advised to start the street naming process soon after Planning Permission is granted and no later than when the Building Regulations commencement inspection is carried out, or an Approved Inspector Notice is given.

To avoid confusion you should be careful about using addresses in marketing material before they are approved. Problems can be caused if people have bought properties which have been marketed under an unofficial name and legal documents have already been drafted. It should be pointed out in written documents that marketing addresses are subject to approval by us and may need to be changed.

The Royal Mail will not allocate a postcode until they receive official notification of new or amended addresses from us.

How to apply

Applications for new postal addresses need to be sent to Building Control.

What we need

The application will be dealt with when all the details we need have been received:

• Completed application form [/downloads/download/1113/street_naming_and_numbering_application_form]
• Site layout showing layout and access to property/properties. Where there are blocks of flats in the development we need layout plans of each floor with the access to the building marked clearly.
• Appropriate fee

Applications can be made by e-mail or post.

Payments

• Online: Make an online payment [/onlinepayments]
• Cheque: All cheques should be made payable to Coventry City Council

These charges are not subject to VAT.

If you have submitted your Building Regulations application to Building Control the street naming and numbering will be free of charge.

Allocation of new postal addresses and new streets

Once a new postal address or new street name is agreed we will tell all the organisations that need to know.

We also contact Royal Mail who are responsible for allocating postcodes. Royal Mail will not allocate a postcode unless we have officially told them of a new address or street name.

It is our policy not to amend or change any new address or street name once it is agreed unless a mistake has been made.

All new addresses are decided in line with British Standard 7666.

Outside Coventry City Council's responsibilities

The Council is not responsible for the following:

• Postcode allocation: is the responsibility of the Royal Mail.
• Non-delivery of items to the official address: issues should be raised with the delivery service involved.
• New/altered addresses being unavailable on databases used by other organisations: various organisations refresh their address sets at different times and from different sources, and address changes can take some time to appear in their systems.