Addressing
Street Naming and Numbering.
The responsibility for street naming rests with Stirling Council. New street names are decided upon following consultation with the local Councillors and the local Community Council. Stirling Council is also responsible for addressing issues within that part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park which is within Stirling Council. (The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, Section 97)
New Addresses
These are created in accordance with British Standard BS7666. This 'regimented' system aims to provide a standardised address structure across the UK. As a result it is sometimes possible that an address cannot be created exactly as the property owner might wish.
Developers, both companies and private individuals, should apply for new addresses as soon as work is about to commence on site, but failing this, preferably at least two months before occupation. This allows ample time (in normal circumstances) for the consultation process to be carried out.
Street Names and Name Plates.
Street name plates in any new streets are provided by the developer, and should be made, located and erected to Council specification. (The Sign Factory, Burnbank Road, Falkirk FK2 7PE, (01324) 501950, offers a complete range).
After the road has been adopted by the Council, street name plates are maintained by Environment Services.
Developers should note that utility companies may refuse to install metres etc. in properties without a recognised postal address, thus delaying completion, AND the sale of the property.
Property Names.
It cannot be stressed too much that house names should be registered to ensure that they become a formal part of an address. Occasionally, it is impractical or impossible to number properties, and a name becomes the only unique identifier. Duplication or partial duplication of an existing name means that it may not always be possible to register an owner's suggested name.
Both for new houses and when a change of name is requested, checks are made in the area to try to ensure that there are no duplicate names, as this could lead to confusion on the part of delivery services and more importantly the emergency services.
If a property name has not been registered, it may not show up in these checks, and, if another owner registers the same name, the latter registration would take precedence.
Promoting New Addresses.
Once street names, property numbers and property names have been created, Stirling Council inform ten bodiess of the new addresses. These include the emergency services, Royal Mail, The General Register Office for Scotland and the Assessors.
Postcodes.
Although normally issued by the Royal Mail after they receive notification of the official addresses from ourselves, can on occasion be issued directly by Stirling Council, eg where a new property sits between two properties with the same postcode.
The Royal Mail.
Has a vital role to play in relation to addresses. Not only in respect of mail delivery, but also because their website is regarded by many, including delivery companies, credit companies, banks, building societies, etc. to be the definitive source of address information. If an address has not been registered through the Council to The Royal mail the chances are that it will not be recorded on their website and often banks etc. will decline to provide their services.
Ideally we would pass any new addresses onto The Royal Mail before there is any need for mail delivery. The Royal Mail record the addresses but don't publish them on their website until advised that they are being occupied. Subsequently they cannot be viewed by any interested parties.
The Royal Mail's processes should lead to these 'unpublished' addresses being made live but do not always do so. If an existing address is not visible on the Royal Mail web-site, owners should contact the Council (on the number shown below) and we will advise The Royal Mail that the property is now occupied. To avoid problems, owners may like to advise The Royal Mail a day or two in advance of first occupation.
Further Information
To enquire about any aspect of Street Naming and Numbering not covered above , please call (01786) 442762 or by e-mail Ken McAlpine.
