If a property is not 'registered' through the street naming and numbering process the address will not appear on the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) or the Royal Mail Postal Address File (PAF) and the owner or occupier may have difficulties with services such as:

• registering for utilities
• applying for credit cards 
• applying for mobile phone contracts
• obtaining mail order goods 
• being located by the emergency services in emergencies

Milton Keynes Council has a statutory power to name and number streets as well as to approve and officially register property addresses within the borough.

Royal Mail will not allocate a postcode until they receive official notification of new or amended addresses from the council.

Who should apply

• individuals or developers building new houses, flats, commercial or industrial premises
• individuals or developers undertaking conversions of residential, commercial or industrial premises which will result in the creation of new properties or premises
• any person who wishes to change their existing address 

When to apply

You should apply to us for address allocation once you have received planning and building regulation approvals. We will then:

• produce a street naming and numbering scheme for your development
• contact the Royal Mail who will allocate the postcode to the approved address

Utility companies are reluctant to install services without an official address and postcode.

If your request involves the naming of new streets please allow sufficient time due to the consultation process with local ward Councillors and Parish Councils. We would not normally officially register an address until a site commences (when the footings are laid).

How to apply

 Apply for street naming and numbering 

Applications will not be processed until the full fee has been paid by the applicant. When applying online payment may be made by debit or credit card or by BACS transfer. 

What needs to be included in an application?

• if you are not the owner of the property you need a letter proving that you are acting on the owners behalf
• a clear map showing the site boundary, with a north arrow, showing access roads and the position of door access to the street
• in larger development schemes it is important to show the type of property to be addresses particularly if any flats or commercial buildings are included. In flatted developments please provide detailed floor plans together with all access points
• if the development includes blocks of flats or large commercial buildings the developer may wish to suggest building names 

How much does it cost?

The Council has a street naming and numbering policy which sets out how and why we charge. Under the policy naming and numbering charges will be imposed for the following services:

• the production of a Street Naming and Numbering Scheme for a new development, conversion or change of use to include full consultation as well as formal notification of addresses to the Royal Mail
• new development on an existing street - numbering of properties only required
• re-numbering of a scheme following a developers re-plan of site layout - after the notification of numbering issued
• re-naming and/or numbering of commercial/industrial premises
• confirmation of an official address allocated by Milton Keynes Council
• challenge/request/revision to existing street naming and numbering schemes
• supply additional copies of the street naming and numbering plans

Read our 2024 charging schedule. 

In extremely rare cases streets may need to be renamed or numbered, under the current charging policy the Council will not charge for this service but will review this annually.

You will not be charged for changing or adding a house name.

If at the end of the process you have been over charged or additional services need to be paid for, you will be contacted by our administration team who can take payment or issue a refund over the telephone to your debit or credit card.