Digital addresses
Addresses for New Developments
New developments often lack official street names for months. See how a precise location code bridges the gap until addresses exist.
Updated 14 October 2026 · 3 min read
A newly built home or office may be finished and occupied well before the local authority assigns a street name and number, and before map and postal databases catch up. During that gap, a precise location code gives residents, builders and delivery drivers a way to find the exact entrance.
Why the gap exists
Official addressing is a sequence of steps: roads are laid, names are approved, numbers are allocated, and the information is passed on to postal services and mapping providers. Each step takes time. Commercial map data may be updated on a schedule, so a new street can be missing for a while even after it is open.
Who is affected
- New homeowners who need furniture, appliances and food delivered.
- Contractors and fitters looking for the site.
- Businesses opening in a new unit that customers cannot yet find.
- Estate agents and developers showing prospective buyers a plot.
- Utility installers who need the exact connection point.
How a location code helps
A code does not depend on a street name. The person on site picks the entrance on a map, gets the code and shares it. It stays valid whether or not the street ever receives a name. Later, when an official address is issued, the code can continue to sit beside it as an extra reference to the exact door. For the broader contrast, see digital address vs postal address.
Practical steps for developers and builders
- Pick a code per plot or entrance rather than one for the entire site.
- Include it in handover documents and on welcome packs.
- Add it to delivery instructions for site materials. See how to share your location with a courier.
- Keep a list so every unit can be matched to its code.
What to tell residents
Residents should still register their official address once it exists, and should use it for government and financial paperwork. The code is an addition. It should not be presented as a replacement for an official address.
Large sites
On a large site with internal roads, a single code at the main gate may not be enough. Give a code for the gate and one for the specific building or unit, plus a short written instruction. This avoids the common situation where a driver arrives at the site but cannot find the block.
Related reading
If you are curious why the gap occurs so widely, read why many places have no formal address. For how to put the code on a form, see how to write a digital address in forms.