Further Information
When should I apply?
You can apply once you have received planning permission/building regulation approval or are in the early stages of construction.
How long will it take?
New addresses on existing street(s) are usually allocated an official address within ten working days of receipt of a valid application.
New addresses on new street(s) are usually allocated an official address within ten working days of agreement of the street names.
We notify Royal Mails Address Management Unit who then allocate postcodes, this usually takes 5-10 working days.
Postcodes
Postcodes are created by Royal Mail. They are a sorting and routing instruction for Royal Mail to deliver items of mail quickly and accurately. Royal Mail will only allocate a postcode once they have been notified by the council of a new postal address.
After Royal Mail allocate a postcode they add the new postal address into the Not Yet Built file (NYB). Only when a new property is built, occupied and can receive mail will Royal Mail update the address from the NYB file to the Postcode Address file (PAF)
You can ring Royal Mail on 08456 045060 to update an address from NYB to PAF.
National Address Gazetteer
Every new address and road name we create goes into our master address database, the Local Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG). Every night our LLPG updates the National Address Gazetteer (NAG) to help fire, police and other government departments work together to provide efficient services.
Postal Address Allocations
You can view all previous address allocations using the website link below
Can I give my property a name?
You can apply to register/change a property name.
Where your property has a number, the property name must be used in addition to the number and not as a replacement, as they are used by the emergency service to effectively locate your property. Your property number must always be clearly displayed on the front of your property.
How can I check a postcode?
By using the postcode/address finder service on the Royal Mail website Addresses in the Not Yet Built (NYB) file are not displayed on the postcode/address finder service.