Street naming and numbering

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is responsible for the naming and numbering of new or existing streets and buildings within the borough boundaries. We carry out these functions under the London Government Act 1963 and London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939.

About our service

If you wish to name or number a new development, sub-divide an existing property, or change the name or number(s) of an existing property or development, you will need to apply to us.

All new numbers or names for streets or buildings will be considered against our procedure on Street Naming and Numbering. The policy is designed to minimise the chance of any confusion in emergency situations, by preventing address duplications or similarities in the local area, including neighbouring boroughs.

We will consult with Royal Mail to allocate a postcode or postcodes. This process can take between one and two weeks. Please note that utility companies and other private companies which provide services, will generally not carry out these services until the address is included on the Post Office Address File (PAF) . The Royal Mail will not add addresses to PAF until they receive the required information from us. We therefore advise you to contact us at the earliest stage of a proposal, preferably when building works commence, and before a name has been marketed.

Your application

You will need to contact us if you need to do any of the following:

Name/number new building(s)
Sub-divide an existing building (s)
Name new streets and pathways
Re-name existing streets and building(s)
Re-numbering of building(s)

All approved new or amended addresses are subsequently sent to the Emergency Services, Royal Mail, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey, The Valuation Office, and Council Departments such as Electoral Registration and Council Tax.

How to apply

To make an application, you need to:

Complete the online application form

If you prefer you can also apply by post including the following:

Completed Street Naming and Numbering application form(pdf, 212KB)
A plan clearly marking out the external entrance to each affected property.
The appropriate fee by cheque (made payable to London Borough of Richmond upon Thames)

Charges (effective from 1 April 2014)

The Street Naming and Numbering function is subject to a charge. The Council undertake all necessary consultations with Royal Mail in connection with the provision of new addresses, or any alteration to an existing address and following agreement of the proposals, will notify the Emergency Services and other relevant public bodies. Other notifications of the change are supplied via the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) to ensure that correct addresses are properly recognised.

Please note: VAT is NOT applicable to charges made in respect of naming and numbering.

Charges for street naming and numbering
Type of Work	Charge
New house/unit (single)	£173.00
New housing development	£173.00 (plus £23.00 per unit)
New property name/commercial	£230.00
Change of name or number	£114.50
Re-name road/street	£173.00 (plus £46.00 per unit)

You can pay the charge due by cheque, debit or credit card. If you are unsure as to the charge due and to avoid delay to your application, you may wish contact us to discuss the charge for your development.

Reconciliation of address anomalies will be free of charges.
Numbering in retrospect of the developer failing to apply for Street Naming and Numbering of their site will be chargeable.
Compulsory re-numbering of a site, where the developer has ignored the Street Naming/Numbering Order will be chargeable.

Please note contravention of the Street Naming and Numbering provisions may result in a prosecution under Section 15 of the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939.

Our service standard

Following receipt of your application we will:

inform you within 2 days if the proposal is not consistent with our policy and invite you to consider alternative suggestions
consult with Royal Mail and Ward Councillors’, where appropriate, on your proposal and inform you of the outcome within 10 days

If you would like to discuss your proposals before making an application, please contact Peter Cridland, Corporate Land and Property Data Manager 020 8891 7889 peter.cridland@richmond.gov.uk.