South Kesteven District Council to formalise street names in district-wide address project
The project aims to tackle address database issues for healthcare and financial access
South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) is set to commence a major project to officially name streets and number houses across the district, aiming to improve residents' access to healthcare and financial services.
The initiative addresses issues faced by households where informal street names lead to problems with service providers, as those properties may not appear in database lists required for online applications.
The project will ensure every home complies with national standards, aligning with legislative requirements.
While existing house names and mail delivery systems remain unaffected, residents will receive an official house number, postcode, and street name.
Councillor Phil Dilks, SKDC Cabinet Member for Planning, noted that local nomenclature and the absence of formal addresses have caused difficulties, including delays in emergency services and mortgage application processes.
The project's long-term goal is to formalise road names and provide house numbers where necessary, covering 41 hamlets lacking official addresses.
Residents' meetings and collaborations with parish councils will inform and reassure residents about the project procedures, government directives, and the use of Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) for address lookups.
SKDC plans to tackle the project in phases, focusing on affected addresses one group at a time, with each phase involving consultation with residents and councils.
Informing residents about the process will be supported by a poster and social media campaign explaining SKDC's responsibilities and the benefits of standardised addressing.