New developments, infills of additional properties and property conversions all require street naming and numbering through Ashford Borough Council.

House names alone are not favoured by us or the emergency services. A number better identifies the location of a property in a road.  The house number and/or name must be prominently displayed so as to be easily read from the highway.

The procedure for naming a road is that the name has to be officially approved by us.

To report an issue with a streetname plate use our online form.

You can view our Street Naming and Numbering Policy 112Kb PDF for additional information.

New Street Names for New Large Developments

If you are a developer you will be be asked to send us choices of names for the street.  Researching into the history of the site and choosing a name with a historic link to the development is much easier to justify.

The charge for a new road is £31 per plot.

You can find out more information on our Application Guidance webpage.

When you are ready to apply, download and complete the Application Form for Naming Streets 28.6Kb PDF.

Property Name Change

Any changes to named properties require formalising through us, we will screen the new name through our databases and the Royal Mail Address Development Centre against duplicity as it could result in incorrect deliveries. 
This procedure usually takes up to 14 days.

Failure to notify us that your property has changed its name will result in your property not being formally registered. This will lead to problems with deliveries of mail, as well as obtaining goods and services to the property concerned. The reason for this is that Royal Mail will not have the correct address on their database and therefore the companies that use address management intelligence from the Royal Mail will inerpret that the property does not exist.

There will be a fee of £31, including VAT,  payable to Ashford Borough Council for property name changes to previously named properties.

How to Apply for a Name Change

You can find out more information on our Application Guidance webpage.

Please download and complete the Application Form for Naming Properties 22.2Kb PDF ensuring that you include the following information:-

• State your current house name
• Propose two house names (stating your first and second choice)
• The location plan of the property
• A cheque of £31

And send the above to:

Planning and Development
Ashford Borough Council, Civic Centre
Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PL

Additional Information

Names may be added to the address of numbered properties with consultation through us. 
However, the number needs to be retained for speedy location by the Emergency Services. 
Once numbered, a property cannot leave out the number and must be quoted with your address on all correspondence.

Land Registry

It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the Land Registry of any property name change.

Land Registry is unable to update the proprietorship register which contains details of the registered proprietor's address for service, unless a person permitted under the 2003 Rules supplies the details. As local authorities are not included, Land Registry cannot use information supplied in this way to replace the address for service. 

The address for contact is:

Land Registry Tunbridge Wells
Forest Court
Forest Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN25 5AQ

You can obtain additional information from the Land Registry Website regarding this.