If you move house/business and decide that you want to give the property a name, or change the existing name, then Building Control must be notified. The necessary checks can then be carried out before agreement of the change.

It is very important that this procedure is followed; otherwise the statutory bodies and emergency services will not be aware of the change. Furthermore, your address is checked against the national data base. If they cannot locate the property, address reliant procedures, such as credit card payments could be affected.

If your house has a number allocated to it, you must legally keep this as part of your address, however, house names may be added to the existing address.

All queries regarding your post code should be referred to the Royal Mail Post Code Section. Telephone: 0845 604 5060.

If a house is erected on an in-fill site between existing properties, the new dwelling will be given a number which follows on from the existing properties. In many cases this will have to be a suffix of the adjoining number i.e. 11a, 19b

If the existing properties do not have numbers, the owner may submit their chosen name to Building Control. The name will then be checked to ensure it does not conflict with any others within the local vicinity.

The selection of new street names is a matter which requires careful consideration to ensure that they are suitable for the area and will not conflict with or duplicate any existing names within the same locality.

Building Control are responsible for the replacement, repair and maintenance of street name plates when this becomes necessary. either due to accidental damage, vandalism or normal wear and tear.

In the case of a new development however, the developer is responsible for the erection of name plates to the Council’s specification.

To report damaged, missing or illegible street name plates, please email building.control@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk