Street Naming and Numbering

Legislation

We have a duty to provide clear, legible nameplates for streets and roads for the convenience of the public and also to assist postal and emergency services. We are empowered to carry out this function by sections 64-65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847 and sections 17-19 of the Public Health Act 1925.

In 1993, the Department of Transport issued guidance to local authorities on street nameplates and the numbering of premises.

The legislation allows us to mount nameplates on the walls of buildings or fences around buildings. Primarily, this is done to ensure the sign is erected in the most visible position. However, it may also be necessary to mount a plate in such a manner to avoid unnecessary obstruction of the footway and to minimise the risk of accidents. Should it be necessary at any time to remove the sign temporarily to permit reconstruction or repair of the building, we will carry out the removal and refixing of the nameplate at our expense, subject to receiving reasonable notice.

Whilst the permission of the owner is not required in order to install a street nameplate to a building, we do try to install nameplates on posts adjacent to the highway wherever possible.

It is an offence for anyone to pull down a nameplate or to place a notice or advertisement within 30cm of one, punishable by a fine.

General information

There are approximately 2,000 streets in Pendle, which can have as many as four nameplates for each or in a few cases, none.

The plates vary little in size or design as they have to be easily seen without being too obtrusive. The more modern ones are made of lightweight steel, with the older ones being of cast iron, many of which are over 100 years old. In keeping with the Council's awareness of the area's heritage, many of these old plates are being cleaned and repainted.

New developments

We are responsible for registering all new developments and allocating names for the roads and numbers for the properties, although it is the developer's responsibility to provide the required street nameplates. Royal Mail creates new postcodes and enters the addresses onto its database once they have received details of the development from us.

The naming of a new site can involve the developer, ward and parish councillors and the Council. The developer is asked to choose a number of alternative road names and these are submitted to the local councillors for consideration. Care must be taken not to choose names that are the same or similar to others in the area, eg White Grove, White Avenue and White Lane, as it can lead to misdirected mail or, more importantly, delays with the emergency services.

Modern trends have moved away from including the words "Street" or "Road" as part of the name. In fact, there have been none in the last 15 years.

Unlucky for some

It is Pendle Council's policy not to use the number 13 on any new developments.

House names

If your house has a name but no number, then the name must be registered on the Royal Mail's database. However, if the house also has a number, then you do not have to register the name unless you wish it to be recognised as part of the official address. Again, care should be taken to avoid duplication.

Contact details

If you wish to report a defective nameplate, request additional nameplates or discuss problems you are experiencing with deliveries, please call us on 01282 661064.

If you prefer, you can write to us at Engineering and Special Projects, Elliott House, 9 Market Square, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 0LX

or send us an email at engineering@pendle.gov.uk