Local residents to be involved in street name changes

Under new proposals, councils in England will have to get agreement from local residents on any proposed changes to street names.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has launched a technical consultation setting out plans to ensure councils in England are approved by local residents in that street before they go ahead with them.

Currently, many councils can change the name of a given street without consulting residents. Consent from local residents has been a legal requirement in the past, but has been ‘disapplied’ in many areas. The government believes the law needs updating so it is consistent across England.

The proposals aim to improve local democracy and ensure that street names that are valued by locals and form part of an area’s identity. Changing a street name can have significant practical costs for residents and businesses which then have to change their address with banks, shops, utilities and on official documents.

Housing Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Up and down the country, street names often form a key part of an area’s history, cherished by the local community for the memories they hold and the places they represent. These proposals will strengthen local democracy by ensuring that councils in England get agreement from local residents in advance of any street name changes.”

The consultation period will run until 22 May and the government will publish its response in due course.