Street names and numbering

All street naming and numbering issues must be dealt with under the following legislation: 

• • Sections 64 and 65 of the Town Improvements Clauses Act 1847, together with Section 21 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907
  • Sections 17 – 19 of the Public Health Act 1925

Through these acts the Council are enabled to allocate numbers to new dwellings, allocate names to new streets and change naming and numbering if required in there solution of issues. 

Street names are to be allocated in compliance with the following points: 

1. All chosen names must satisfy the following criteria: 

a. It must not be duplicated or could otherwise be confused with another similar name elsewhere in the Peterborough Unitary area or a neighbouring area with a postal town of Peterborough. A variation in the terminal word, i.e. Street, Road or Avenue etc. will not be accepted as sufficient reason to duplicate a name as this is likely to cause confusion for the emergency services.

b. There are no objections from the Emergency Services or Royal Mail. 

c. The proposal will not offend public decency. 

d. The proposal will not tend to invite graffiti. 

e. Names should be easy to say and spell, so as not to cause confusion in an emergency situation. 

2. Roads may be named after people who have been proposed as being worthy of such an honour because they were true characters of Peterborough, people who although very well known to many Peterborians have not been fully recognised for the contribution that they gave to the city. However, people’s names are accepted provided at least two years have passed since the person’s death and subject to the wishes of their families and close friends. Names meeting these guidelines must still satisfy the criteria detailed in section 1.

3. In the absence of any proposed people’s names then priority is to be given to the use of names that are relevant to the history of the area surrounding the development or to the area’s topological features. In the event of naming streets within estates it is to be encouraged to follow a theme where practicable. 

4. Any street name that promotes a company, service or product will not be allowed. Names based on a developer’s trading name are seen as advertising and are not acceptable. An exception to this may be made for a company that no longer exists, if used solely in a historical context and the claim of advertising cannot be made. 

5. The street naming and numbering officer will consult with relevant parish councils in all cases of naming and numbering within that area. 

6. In the event of a dispute the Director of Growth and Regeneration will adjudicate initially with any appeal being assessed by the relevant cabinet member whose decision will be final. In all cases the decisions must be within the restrictions of this policy. 

Street properties will be numbered and these numbers will remain the identifier of that property for the whole of the life of the property. The only exception to this will be on the very rare occasions that there are insufficient options for infill property development.

When there is no existing numbering system on a road (often for historical reasons or in rural areas where properties are more dispersed) then a property will have a name. Any proposed new house names or changes to house names must also be approved by the street naming and numbering officer in order to ensure that there will be no duplication or confusion caused by the proposals. When a property is numbered the owners may use a property name in addition to the number but the property name will not form part of the official address. In all cases the property number must be used as part of the address. 

The numbering of roads will be in accordance with the following: 

• Number 13 to be omitted.
• As a general rule all roads will be numbered with odd numbers on one side(usually to the left hand side) and evens on the other (usually to the righthand side). Small cul-de-sac developments may be numbered sequentially. 
• The Council’s numbering sequence is final.

Upon full planning permission being granted developers must provide two site layout plans and two floor plans in the case of apartments or flats. This is to occur after the commencement of construction work but prior to any occupation. The street naming and numbering officer will then liaise with the developer with regards to suggested or preferred names but will be in all cases guided by this policy. A similar process is to occur with infill properties, in which case the council will allocate a number appropriate to the existing street.

All addresses are to be fully compliant with BS7666 (2006) in order to be held within the Local Land and Property Gazetteer.