Street naming and numbering
Preparing street naming and numbering schemes are statutory functions of the council as outlined in the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847 and the Public Health Act 1925. These powers are essential for the efficient functioning of postal and emergency services as well as for the convenience and safety of the general public.
email contact:address.management@southampton.gov.uk
Postcodes
We are not responsible for issuing new postcodes. This is the responsibility of the Royal Mail. However, it will not issue a postcode for a new street or property until requested to do so by the Council.
Inquiries about postcodes can be dealt with direct at:
• Email: addressdevelopment@royalmail.com
Searches for postcodes can also be carried out on the Royal Mail Website.
Naming a property
The Council has no power to agree or refuse a building name. We do however request that any name chosen is not similar to any other in the immediate locality and advice will be given on this. We have no objection to a house name being added to an existing postal address but it cannot replace the street number, which must always be used.
House names alone are not favoured by the Council or the emergency services as a number readily identifies the location of a property in a road. The only exception to this will be on the rare occasion, where a street numbering sequence does not exist. When this does occur, we will accept the use of a building name to identify the property. Street numbers and building names should always be prominently displayed where they can be easily read from the public highway.
Renaming or renumbering
If all residents agree, an application can be made to the Council for a street name change. We will give careful consideration to the reasons for the request and give a decision after consultation with the Royal Mail and the general public.
Street nameplates
When a road is built as part of a new development it is the responsibility of the developer to arrange for the installation of a street nameplate to the appropriate specification. Any repairs or replacement of the plates is carried out by the council. To report a missing or damaged nameplate, please contact action line by email, or by phone 0800 5 19 19 19
Southampton City Council
