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Street Naming and Numbering

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Street Naming & Numbering

Street naming and numbering is a legal function of the council. Hyndburn Borough Council is responsible for allocating official street names and property numbers for new developments and property conversions.

Further details are available in Hyndburn’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy.

Apply for Street Naming and Numbering

Important Information for Developers and Property Owners

Individuals and developers must not allocate their own house numbers, building names, or street names. The council maintains the definitive record of all street names and property addresses via the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG).

Correct addressing is essential. Postal services, emergency services, public bodies, and private organisations all rely on accurate address information to locate properties efficiently.

If a property is not registered through the street naming and numbering process, it will not appear on the main address database. This can cause difficulties such as:

  • Problems receiving mail and deliveries
  • Delays or refusals in obtaining utilities
  • Issues applying for services such as credit cards or mail‑order goods

Who Uses the Address Database?

The main address database is used by:

  • Hyndburn Borough Council
  • Royal Mail
  • Statutory undertakers and utility companies
  • Emergency services
  • Credit reference agencies
  • Satellite navigation system providers
  • Many private sector organisations

Address Standards

All new addresses are allocated in accordance with British Standard BS 7666, ensuring accuracy and consistency across national systems.

Who Needs to Apply?

You must apply for street naming and numbering if you are:

  • An individual or developer building new residential, commercial, or industrial properties
  • An individual or developer converting existing residential, commercial, or industrial premises resulting in new properties or units

When to Apply

Once planning permission has been granted, you should apply for a postal address as early as possible in the development process. Applications should be made before the build or conversion is substantially complete.

Please note: utility companies cannot install services without an official postal address and postcode.

Charges

From 1 April 2012, Hyndburn Borough Council charges a fee for the provision of Street Naming and Numbering services.

SNN Fees
Application Type
 Charge from 1st April 2022
Naming/Renaming of Roads
 Naming of a new road  £250 per road
 Alteration of Road Name for Unoccupied Street  £250 per road
 Renaming of an existing road when requested by residents  £350 per road + £60 per
property.
 House Naming and Numbering
Numbering of new development including flats/apartments(2 – 9 properties)  £60 per plot
Numbering of new development including flats/apartments (10 – 49 properties)  £35 per plot
Numbering of new development including flats/apartments (50 or more properties)  £30 per plot
 Renumbering for individual residential dwelling/flat/apartment.  £60
 Naming of residential dwelling  £60
 Renaming of existing residential dwelling  £60
 Other Categories
 Numbering/renumbering of a commercial/industrial business   unit  £65
 Change of postal address (road name / street)  £60
 Changes to development after initial notification  £55 per change
 Written confirmation of postal address  £55

These charges are not subject to VAT.

If you are unsure which fee applies to your application, please contact the team on 01254 380 646 for advice.

How to Pay

Payment can be made in one of the following ways:

  • Cheque
    Cheques should be made payable to Hyndburn Borough Council and sent with the completed application form.
  • Invoice
    If preferred, an invoice can be raised. Payment can then be made using the methods detailed on the invoice and the Application for New Postal Address.

Timescales for Address Allocation

  • New addresses on existing streets
    Under normal circumstances, postal addresses are allocated within 2-4 weeks following liaison with Royal Mail.
  • New street names
    Where a request involves naming new streets, a consultation process with local ward councillors is required. In these cases, postal addresses are normally allocated within 3-5 weeks of receiving a valid application.

Postcodes

Postcodes are allocated by Royal Mail. You can check postcode information on the Royal Mail website in accordance with the PAF Code of Practice.

Contact Details

Land and Geospatial Analyst
ICT Team
Scaitcliffe House
Ormerod Street
Accrington
BB5 0PF

Phone: 01254 380 646
Email: SNN@hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Street Name Plates

Reporting Damaged or Missing Plates

To report a damaged or missing street name plate, please:

  • Telephone the Engineering Team on 01254 356 257, or
  • Email planning@hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Council Responsibilities

The Council has a statutory duty to ensure that street name plates are provided and installed in appropriate locations on every highway within the Hyndburn Borough.

The Council is also responsible for the repair and ongoing maintenance of street name plates where required due to:

  • Accidental damage
  • Vandalism
  • Normal wear and tear

New Developments

For new developments:

  • The developer or builder is responsible for erecting street name plates to the Council’s specification.
  • Once the development is satisfactorily completed, Lancashire County Council adopts the street as a public highway.
  • Following adoption, Hyndburn Borough Council assumes responsibility for the future maintenance and replacement of the street name plates.