Residents to have final say on changes to street names
Proposals will ensure councils in England get agreement from local residents in advance of any street name changes.
New plans have been published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to give local residents the final say on changes to the name of their street.
Currently, many councils have the ability to modify the name of a 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 this law needs updating so it remains consistent throughout England.
The current system relies upon three Acts which date from the early 20th century, creating nationally inconsistent and unclear procedures for changing street names.
Under the existing legislation, many local authorities have the power to change the name of a given street without engaging residents or businesses on that street.
The government is considering the case for modernising these Acts by replacing them with a single, clear requirement for a residents’ vote on any changes to the name of the place they live. This will be based on the principles set out in the 1907 legislation.
The proposals aim to improve local democracy and ensure that street names are valued by locals, forming a part of an area’s identity.
Changing a street name can also have significant practical costs for residents and businesses, which then have to change their addresses with banks, shops, utilities and on official documents.
Housing Minister, Rt Hon. 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.’
Photo by Kai Bossom