Building the foundations for property expansion

With major expansion planned in and around Cambridge City Council over the next few years, it is likely that 18,000 new addresses will be required and, with some development sites crossing the border with their neighbouring authority, South Cambridgeshire District Council, it was clear that a formal process of joint working needed to be put into place.

From the early stages of the planning process for the major growth sites in Cambridge, councillors had expressed specifically that local communities become involved in suggesting street names for the new developments. With some new streets crossing the boundary with South Cambridgeshire District Council, a defined naming process was clearly needed.

At the time, Cambridge City Council did not have a Street Naming and Numbering Policy, and so took the opportunity to correct this; but, at the same time, it looked to instigate charges for the service, and, as part of the new policy, also introduced a section relating to joint working with neighbouring authorities.

How the project was carried out

During consultation meetings held with South Cambridgeshire District Council, it was important that a consistent approach was taken. With some of the major residential schemes crossing the boundary, this importance focused on:

• a seamless, integrated approach from both authorities

• new and improved guidance for both the public and developers

• standard charges for the service

• simplified application forms.

The overall consultation process saw officers of both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council working closely with minimum delay to establish a list of proposed street names. Once this was achieved, further joint working was established, with one authority consulting with Royal Mail and the other with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service to produce a definitive list that could be used for street names by either authority.

Forward planning, good consultation and advertising of the new policy ensured buy-in from all relevant partners and stakeholders, which was achieved through:

• report to committees

• consultation with developers and residents

• liaison with neighbouring authorities to resolve any discrepancies in specification and/or procedures

• speaking to a local reporter who wrote an article detailing the new street naming and numbering policy.

Outcomes

The creation of the policy has enabled a closer working relationship with South Cambridgeshire District Council and has improved workflow and procedures relating to SNN and the LLPG. This new and improved SNN guidance has been made available for both the public and developers via the council’s website.

As soon as details of new developments are received for the major growth sites, the Street Naming and Numbering Officer will forward details and a site layout plan to the LLPG custodian.

The new properties are entered into the LLPG as lots and, when the plots are officially named, the LLPG custodian is again informed so that the plots can be renamed to the correct address. These addresses are then passed onto other departments and the county council by the normal method of using a daily Change Only Update file.

Key benefits

• collation of email distribution list resulting in greater efficiency and little or no paper usage

• policy is sensitive to the naming requirements of each council: Cambridge City – local residents and history groups and South Cambridgeshire District Council – parish councils

• all new street names reflect the character and history of the area where new building is being undertaken

• removed duplication of effort in liaising with Royal Mail and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

• developers only have to deal with one authority

• LLPG contains accurate and up-to-date information with regards to a proposed development location prior to the official allocation of street names and numbers