Street naming and numbering

Blackpool Council have a number of standards that should be followed for naming a street:

1. Street names and addresses cannot be duplicated within the borough
2. Street names should not be difficult to pronounce or have an awkward spelling
3. The naming of streets after people is not allowed. Consideration may be given to well known or local historical figures
4. The street names should, where possible, reflect the history or geography of the site or area
5. Street names that could be considered offensive will not be allowed
6. Streets can be renamed at the request of the majority of residents on a street
7. Alleyways and other non-residential streets cannot be named or renamed by request in this fashion

Street name endings

All new street names should end with one of the following:

• Street
• Road
• Way
• Avenue (for residential roads)
• Drive (for residential roads)
• Place (for residential roads)
• Grove (for residential roads)
• Mews(for residential roads)
• Gardens (for residential – subject to there being no confusions with local open space)
• Crescent (for a crescent shaped road)
• Close (for a cul-de-sac only)
• Court (for a cul-de-sac only)
• Square (for a square only)
• Hill (for a hillside road only)
• Lane (for development of a historic by-way)

Please Note: These charges are not subject to VAT.

Payments can be made in three ways, by cheque, invoice, or payment over the phone. Cheques can be made payable to Blackpool Council, Bickerstaffe House 1 Bickerstaffe Square Blackpool FY1 3AH for the attention of highways and traffic, for invoices we do charge an extra fee of £15 to cover administrative costs.

There is a considerable amount of resource, both in staff time and associated costs that are incurred in the street naming and numbering process. As the council has a statutory obligation to provide such a service it is a service that cannot be ignored.

The time scale for processing the application varies depending on Royal Mail. They are the only ones that can issue a postcode, if a postcode is not required then this can take up to 3 working days to be processed and to receive a letter of confirmation from us to confirm the change.

Occasions when it may be necessary to rename or renumber a street:

• There is confusion over a street name
• A group of residents is unhappy with their street name
• New properties are built in a street and renumbering is needed to accommodate them

A request to change, alter or correct the name of a street or renumber a street can be made directly to the council's street naming and numbering officer. They will conduct a consultation exercise with all residents and landlords (or housing associations) with properties along the street to be changed, to obtain their views of this change.

The change of name of a street or renumber a street will only proceed if a clear majority of the residents and landlords (or housing associations) are in agreement with the proposed change. If a clear majority are not in favour of the change then the street naming and numbering officer will write to the original correspondent and all residents that no change will take place.

When the council receive a request to change a streets detail, they will give careful consideration to the proposal along with consulting Royal Mail. Regarding renaming or renumbering a street, on acceptance of the change the street naming and numbering officer will request approval for this change from the local ward councillors. Once approval has been gained the they will prepare notices to be displayed in conspicuous positions at both ends of the street to be renamed, 32 days prior to the street renaming/renumbering coming into effect.

All objections to these proposed changes on a street will be required to be notified to the street naming and numbering officer within 21 days of the erection of the notices. Should no objections be supplied or all objections be rejected, the change to naming or numbering will come into effect on the date indicated on the notices. This will be confirmed in writing to all residents living along the street, and the ward councillors the new street name/numbering, for their information.

Developers should apply as soon as possible for a street name.

You are encouraged to state your preferred suggested street name. If no street name is suggested then we can provide appropriate names for you.

It is always a good idea to try and suggest names based on the history of the area. Blackpool Council has the right to decline any inappropriate names. We do not duplicate street names in Blackpool.

All new street names should end with one of the following suffixes:

• Street
• Road
• Way
• Avenue (for residential roads)
• Drive (for residential roads)
• Place (for residential roads)
• Grove (for residential roads)
• Mews (for residential roads)
• Gardens (for residential – subject to there being no confusions with local open space.)
• Crescent (for a crescent shaped road)
• Close (for a cul-de-sac only)
• Court (for a cul-de-sac only)
• Square (for a square only)
• Hill (for a hillside road only)
• Lane (for development of a historic by-way)

Make an application for a street name