Street naming and numbering

1. It must be the property owner who applies to add or change a house name.
2. You may have a house name in addition to the number, but house numbers cannot be removed from your postal address and must be displayed in a prominent position on the property, visible from the road.
3. The cost of the application is £85.
4. We will then consult with Royal Mail to check that the name you’ve chosen does not conflict with any other properties in the area. This process can take up to 28 days.
5. If the new name is accepted a confirmation letter will be sent for you to keep with the deeds to the property. You must receive this before making any changes.
6. We will also inform Royal Mail, the emergency services and our other council departments of the new property name.

Apply and pay using our online house name change form

Further information

If you need further advice you can email our team at nlpg@arun.gov.uk.

For detailed information please see our street naming and property numbering policy[pdf] 391KB

If you need any help before making an application please email nlpg@arun.gov.uk. For detailed information see our street naming and property numbering policy[pdf] 391KB.

How to apply

You can apply online:

• register a single new property
• register multiple new properties
• register converted properties

You'll need to attach a plan with your application:

• showing layout, plot numbers and points of access (blocks of flats must show the layout of each floor and plot numbers)
• in an electronic format (only PDF or JPEG formats are accepted)
• and include a list of suggested street names, if you have one - if you do not have a suggestion of street names, we’ll research suitable street names for a development

Fees

New build properties or developments

New build properties or developments

Type of application	Charge (per application)
New individual property	£35
New development or redevelopment (new builds and conversions including new builds following demolition)	£220 per road + £35 per plot
Amendment to previously approved address	£35 per property

 

Existing properties and/or streets

Existing properties and/or streets

Type of application	Charge (per application)
Change of property name or commercial property name	£85
Change of building name (for example a block of flats)	£85 + £35 per flat or unit
Street renaming (resident’s request)	£220 + £35 per property
Street numbering (resident’s request where no numbering currently exists)	On individual basis (contact us for more information)
Database corrections (for example incorrect spelling)	No charge

Street naming rules

When allocating or agreeing street names, we consider the following:

• we favour street names which reflect the historical significance of an area, or that refer to people who have been connected to that area or site
• ideally, street names should not be difficult to pronounce or awkward to spell
• the name should not duplicate any similar name already used locally - for example if Bexley Street exists you cannot use Bexley Road
• street names must not contain punctuation - For example, ‘St Mary’s Close’ will be officially recorded as ‘St Marys Close’
• the creation of an address in order to secure a ‘prestige’ address or to avoid an address which is thought to be undesirable will not be allowed

Property numbering rules

When allocating or agreeing property numbers, we consider the following:

• specific property numbers will not be avoided, except number 13
• a proper sequence should be maintained
• for infill developments it may be necessary to use an alphabetical suffix, for example 9a
• generally, all roads will be numbered with odd numbers on one side and evens on the other
• small cul-de-sac developments may be numbered sequentially
• properties (including those on corner plots) will be numbered according to the road in which the main access is situated

What happens next

We’ll consult with the ambulance service, fire and rescue service and the relevant town or parish council regarding the proposed street names or changes to the existing street name.

Residents will also be consulted on changes to existing street names.

We’ll then ask Royal Mail to allocate postcodes for all the properties in question.

Once agreed

Once street names and postcodes have been agreed upon, we’ll inform the developer and various statutory bodies such as Royal Mail, utility companies, West Sussex County Council, mapping companies and various council departments.