North Herts Council is the street naming and numbering authority for the North Hertfordshire district. It carries out these functions under the provisions of the Town Improvements Clauses Act 1847.
The Council needs to be contacted if:
- a developer requires addresses for a new property or properties
- a property owner wants to renumber or rename their property
- a property owner wants to give their property a name
Report a damaged street name plate
You report a broken or missing street name plate to us:
How to number or name your property
The Council has a statutory duty to number new houses and developments and name new streets and so will provide an applicant with a dwelling number under the above act. However, the Council does not have a duty to notify statutory organisations or others of any new address. It is very important for properties to be formally named and numbered as the Emergency Services and statutory undertakers (gas, electricity, water and telephone companies) all locate the property by the information we provide.
If you do not wish to pay for these additional services, a number will be allocated to the property and an individual development will need to undertake these notifications. If the Council's notification service is not used when a number is first allocated, this will be registered on the land charges search. Subsequent purchasers are able to use this service retrospectively.
Upon receipt of an application with the appropriate fee, we will undertake this service on your behalf and will notify organisations of new address changes by issuing precise location plans together with the relevant documents. These official agencies include Police, Fire, Ambulance, Electoral Registration, Council Tax, Royal Mail, Ordnance Survey, Land Charges and Land Registry.
Information for developers
Developers should contact the Council as soon as they commence work on site. The developer will need to provide a plan preferably in paper form, no larger than A2, unless for a larger development of numerous dwellings. The plan should show layout, plot numbers and property points of access. These should be marked with a red dot or arrow. With blocks of flats, the layout of each floor should be shown including plot numbers.
Developers may wish to suggest street names for their development. The Council will research suitable street names for a development.
Developers should refer to the Street Naming and Numbering Policy before submitting their application.
What the council will do
Ward councillors, historical groups and the relevant town or parish council will be consulted on any proposed street names. Street naming and numbering is a delegated function. Where agreement cannot be reached on a proposed name, the matter will be determined by the relevant Area Committee.
The Council will also ask the Royal Mail to reserve postcodes for all the properties in question.
Once street names have been agreed and postcodes submitted, the Council will inform the developer and various statutory bodies such as Royal Mail, utility companies, Hertfordshire County Council, mapping companies and various council departments.
How to apply
The easiest way to submit your application is online.
There is also a printable version of the application form below should you prefer to submit by post to:
Street Naming and Numbering
North Hertfordshire District Council
PO Box 10613
Nottingham
NG6 6DH
If you require assistance in completing the form please call 01462 474431 or contact SNN@north-herts.gov.uk.
Payments
We accept payment of application fees by credit/debit card.
Credit/debit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Solo, Visa Delta) can be made by contacting the Street Naming and Numbering Officer on 01462 474431 or contact SNN@north-herts.gov.uk.
We aim to process individual applications within 10 working days, however larger numbering schemes will take longer and the applicant will be notified of this at the initial stage and will be kept informed along the process.
The charges for the notification of new addresses and amendments to the official agencies are:
| Type of request | Cost |
|---|---|
| New buildings (residential or commercial) | 1-10 plots: £153.00 per plot 11+ plots: 10 plots at £153.00 per plot + £14.50 per additional plot |
| Change of house name | £153.00 |
| Changes to an existing house number | £153.00 |
| Adding an 'alias' name to an existing numbered property | £35.00 |
| Changes to an existing officially named road | £762.00 per household request |
Contact details
For queries related to street naming and numbering, please email SNN@north-herts.gov.uk or call 01462 474431.
Guidance
The Street Naming and Numbering Statement with detailed information on the Council's procedures can be found below.