🔃Royal Mail Address
The Royal Mail Address Feature Type provides Royal Mail delivery point addresses, a point geometry and information describing the relationship they have with local authority addresses.
Data schema versioning
The following table provides details about this feature type’s data schema versions, including the reasons behind the changes and the related launch date when each version went live.
🔃 Data schema version table
2.0
08 October 2026
Ongoing
Major version increment. New attribution added for Full Address, Country, Primary UPRN Match, Postcode Area, Postcode District, Postcode Sector, PIF (Postcode Information File) Checksum Digit and PIF Display Text.
The Postcode, Post Town, Welsh Post Town, Geometry Allocation Method and Positional Accuracy attributes are now filterable in OS Select+Build.
New Multiple Residence, Delivery Point Alias and Other Alias Related Components added.
1.1
08 October 2026
Ongoing
Minor version increment. Update to schema to make the Description attribute filterable in OS Select+Build.
1.0
30 September 2025
30 September 2026
Initial launch of the Royal Mail Address Feature Type.
Please see Data schema versioning for in-depth information about data schema versioning in the OS NGD.
Temporal filtering
Temporal filtering allows you to order a one-off snapshot of data from the OS NGD from a current or past date. It is an optional step when you create a new data package in OS Select+Build (the OS NGD download service).
The earliest and latest dates on which you can request a one-off snapshot of a date in the past for this feature type's data schema versions are indicated in the Data schema version table above. Please note that any data temporally filtered earlier than the specified launch date indicated in the table for the data schema versions may contain data inconsistencies.
More information about temporal filtering on OS NGD feature types is available from the Getting started with temporal filtering guide.
🆕 Related components
Royal Mail related components are provided for Royal Mail Address Feature Type data schema version 2.0 onward; they are not provided against data schema version 1.0 or 1.1 of the feature type.
Customers taking data schema version 2.0 onward of the Royal Mail Address Feature Type in GeoPackage format will receive the following in their data package:
Feature type: Royal Mail Address
Related components: Multiple Residence, Delivery Point Alias and Other Alias
However, the three Royal Mail related components (Multiple Residence, Delivery Point Alias and Other Alias) will only be provided for Royal Mail Address features if the Description attribute is 'Postcode Address File'. Against all other Royal Mail Address features where the Description attribute is 'Not Yet Built', the related components will be provided but will be populated as 'Null'.
Please see the Address Related Components page for more information about the three Royal Mail related components.
🔃 Feature type attributes
The following sub-sections provide details about the attributes included with this feature type, their data types in the different output formats, and other important metadata about them.
Loading OS NGD CSV files into databases
Comma-separated values (CSV) file format is universally supported for easy ingestion into all major database products. Before loading OS NGD data contained in CSV files into a database, it is necessary to create relevant tables. Data definition language (DDL) statements for PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Oracle can be accessed in our OS NGD Resources GitHub repository.
For instructions on loading CSV files, see the Getting Started with CSV guide.
udprn
Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) assigned by Royal Mail as a persistent identifier.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
versiondate
Date when the version was last updated.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
versionavailablefromdate
The date this version of the feature became the latest version.
Data Types: DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
versionavailabletodate
The date this version of the feature was superseded by an update or ceased to exist.
Data Types: DateTime (GPKG), DateTime (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
changetype
The type of change that generated a new version of the feature.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: changetypevalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
theme
The OS NGD theme to which this feature belongs.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: themevalue
Max Length: 40
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
description
A single descriptive value intended for a quick understanding of what the feature represents.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: royalmailaddressdescriptionvalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: royalmailaddressdescriptionvalue
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.0
organisationname
The name of the organisation operating from the address.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 60
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
departmentname
For some organisations, department name is indicated because mail is received by subdivisions of the main organisation at distinct delivery points.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 60
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
subbuildingname
The sub building name and / or number are identifiers for subdivisions of properties.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 30
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
buildingname
The building name is a description applied to a single building or a small group of buildings, such as HIGHFIELD HOUSE. This also includes those building numbers that contain non-numeric characters, such as 44A. Some descriptive names, when included with the rest of the address, are sufficient to identify the property uniquely and unambiguously, for example, MAGISTRATES COURT. Sometimes the building name will be a blend of distinctive and descriptive naming, for example, RAILWAY TAVERN (PUBLIC HOUSE) or THE COURT ROYAL (HOTEL).
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
buildingnumber
The building number is a number given to a single building or a small group of buildings, thus identifying it from its neighbours, for example, 44. Building numbers that contain a range, decimals or non-numeric characters do not appear in this field but will be found in the Building Name or the Sub Building Name fields.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 4
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
dependentthoroughfare
In certain places, for example, town centres, there are named thoroughfares within other named thoroughfares, for example, parades of shops on a high street where different parades have their own identity. For example, KINGS PARADE, HIGH STREET and QUEENS PARADE, HIGH STREET.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 80
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a road, track or named access route on which there are Royal Mail delivery points, for example, HIGH STREET.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 80
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
doubledependentlocality
This is used to distinguish between similar thoroughfares or the same thoroughfare within a dependent locality. For example, Millbrook Industrial Estate and Cranford Estate in this situation: BRUNEL WAY, MILLBROOK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, MILLBROOK, SOUTHAMPTON and BRUNEL WAY, CRANFORD ESTATE, MILLBROOK, SOUTHAMPTON.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 35
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
dependentlocality
Dependent locality areas define an area within a post town. These are only necessary for postal purposes and are used to aid differentiation where there are thoroughfares of the same name in the same locality. For example, High Street in Shirley and Swaythling in this situation: HIGH STREET, SHIRLEY, SOUTHAMPTON and HIGH STREET, SWAYTHLING, SOUTHAMPTON.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 35
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
posttown
The town or city in which the Royal Mail sorting office is located which services this record. There may be more than one, possibly several, sorting offices in a town or city.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 30
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 30
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1
postcode
The postcode unit that the Address is situated within. A postcode is an abbreviated form of address, made up of combinations of between five and seven alphanumeric characters. These alphanumeric characters are used by Royal Mail to help with the automated sorting of mail. A postcode may cover between 1 and 100 addresses. Postcodes (for example, NW6 4DP) are comprised of two components. The first component is the outward code (or ‘outcode’), which is the first two to four characters of a postcode, constituting the postcode area and the postcode district, for example, NW6. The outward code is the part of the postcode that enables mail to be sent from the accepting office to the correct area for delivery. The second component of a postcode is the inward code (or ‘incode’), which is the last three characters of the postcode, constituting the postcode sector and the postcode unit, for example, 4DP. The inward code is used to sort mail at the local delivery office.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 8
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 8
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1
🆕 postcodearea
The postcode area is identified by one or two alpha characters at the start of the postcode, the letters being derived from a town, city or district falling within the postcode area. There are, at present, 124 postcode areas in Great Britain, for example, FK for Falkirk, CF for Cardiff and SO for Southampton. For more information about the postcode area, please consult chapter one 'Structure of a PAF address' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
🆕 postcodedistrict
The postcode district is identified by one or two alphanumeric characters following the postcode area, for example, FK1 for Falkirk, CF10 for Cardiff and SO16 for Southampton. For more information about the postcode district, please consult chapter one 'Structure of a PAF address' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Note
There are certain non-geographic districts. In these instances, a district code is allocated to cover all large users in the postcode area. For more information about the postcode, please consult chapter one 'Structure of a PAF address' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 4
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
🆕 postcodesector
The postcode sector is a sub-area of a postcode district. It's identified by one numeric character following the postcode district (with a space included), for example, FK1 1 for Falkirk, CF10 1 for Cardiff and SO16 1 for Southampton. For more information about the postcode sector, please consult chapter one 'Structure of a PAF address' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Data Types: String (GeoJSON), String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 6
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
🆕 pifchecksumdigit
A single numeric digit derived from the associated postcode. The Postcode Information File (PIF) Checksum Digit is derived from the postcode using the Royal Mail postcode checksum algorithm. The Checksum Digit is not part of the postcode itself and should not be represented as part of the postcode value. For more information about PIF attribution, please consult chapter 12 'Postcode Information File' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Note
All Postcode Address File (PAF) Mainfile addresses have associated Postcode Information File (PIF) attribution, although this attribution may present as null where the daily publication PAF Mainfile address has been created or edited and has not yet appeared in the subsequent monthly publication of PIF.
All PIF attribution will appear as null upon initial release of v2.0 of the Royal Mail Address Feature Type, with publication in the OS NGD expected to begin in 2027.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 1
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 2.0
🆕 pifdisplaytext
Details the delivery point address, described as either the relevant building number, or a string containing the most significant 50 characters of the delivery point description (as held as display text within the Postcode Address File – PAF). The Display Text Field will contain only the house number information unless properties do not have a house number, in which case the house name will appear. Where flats occur, the relevant flat information from the PAF will appear. For organisations which appear on the PAF, the organisation will appear on the Postcode Information File (PIF). For more information about PIF attribution, please consult chapter 12 'Postcode Information File' of the Royal Mail Programmer's Guide.
Note
All Postcode Address File (PAF) Mainfile addresses have associated Postcode Information File (PIF) attribution, although this attribution may present as null where the daily publication PAF Mainfile address has been created or edited and has not yet appeared in the subsequent monthly publication of PIF.
All PIF attribution will appear as null upon initial release of v2.0 of the Royal Mail Address Feature Type, with publication in the OS NGD expected to begin in 2027.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 50
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 2.0
postcodetype
Describes the address as a small or large user as defined by Royal Mail.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: postcodetypevalue
Max Length: 10
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
🆕 country
Name of the geographical territory that the Address is located within, where a geographical territory represents either a devolved country or an island nation. This is available only where the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) Address is matched to a Local Authority Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN).
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: countryvalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
🆕 fulladdress
Concatenation of the following address components: Organisation, Sub-Building Name and / or Building Name and / or Building Number, Thoroughfare, Locality, Post Town and Postcode.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 1 000
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 2.0
deliverypointsuffix
A two-character code uniquely identifying an individual delivery point within a postcode.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Max Length: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
welshdependentthoroughfare
The Welsh translation of Dependent Thoroughfare.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 80
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
welshthoroughfare
The Welsh translation of Thoroughfare.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 80
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
welshdoubledependentlocality
The Welsh translation of Double Dependent Locality.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 35
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
welshdependentlocality
The Welsh translation of Dependent Locality.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 35
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
welshposttown
The Welsh translation of Post Town.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 30
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 30
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1
poboxnumber
Post Office Box (PO Box) number or the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) number.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 13
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
updatedate
The date the Royal Mail record last changed.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
entrydate
Date of the change file that first supplied the Royal Mail record.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
easting
X coordinate defining the position of the object in accordance with the British National Grid (EPSG:27700) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 8
Scale: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
northing
Y coordinate defining the position of the object in accordance with the British National Grid (EPSG:27700) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 2
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
latitude
Value defining the latitude of the Address location in accordance with the ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 7
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
longitude
Value defining the longitude of the Address location in accordance with the ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) coordinate reference system.
Data Types: Float (GPKG), Real (CSV)
Nullable: false
Precision: 9
Scale: 7
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
geometry
Geometry for the feature.
Data Types: Geometry (GPKG), WKT (CSV)
Nullable: false
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
Geometry Type: Point
positionalaccuracy
Local Authority assigned value giving a description of the accuracy of the coordinate position allocated to the Address location, for example, 'Central Internal Position' of a building.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: positionalaccuracyvalue
Code List Version: 2.0
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: positionalaccuracyvalue
Code List Version: 2.0
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1
geometryallocationmethod
Describes the method by which a geometry was allocated to the Royal Mail record. Where a Royal Mail record is matched to a Local Authority record, the geometry will be assigned from the matched record. Where a Royal Mail record cannot be directly matched, geometry will be assigned by reference to a parent record, a street, or records which share the postcode unit, sector, district or area – in the listed order of preference. Where none of the listed methods are available, the geometry will be allocated to an internal centre point for the Local Authority area or Island in which the Royal Mail address is located.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: geometryallocationmethodvalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: geometryallocationmethodvalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1
unmatchedreason
Describes the reason that the Royal Mail record has not been matched to a Local Authority record.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Max Length: 100
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
unmatchedreasondate
The date on which the Unmatched Reason value was captured.
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
uprn
The Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) to which a Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) has been matched.
Data Types: Integer (GPKG), Integer (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
matchedaddressfeaturetype
The feature type of the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) to which the Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) has been matched.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: matchedaddressfeaturetypevalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
🆕 primaryuprnmatch
Indicates whether a matched Local Authority Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) is considered to be the primary match by GeoPlace and / or the relevant Local Authority. This attribute is particularly useful when a Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) is matched to multiple UPRNs as it will provide a one-to-one relationship between the UPRN and UDPRN.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: yesnovalue
Max Length: 3
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 2.0
matchtype
A description of the relationship assigned between the Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) and the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN). Where a Postcode Address File (PAF) record relates directly to a Local Authority record, this is set to ‘Direct.’ If a ‘Direct’ match cannot be found, a PAF record may be matched to a Parent, Neighbour or Street record in Local Authority data, in order to estimate a position for the PAF record.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: false
Code List Name: rmtolamatchtypevalue
Max Length: 20
OS Select+Build Filterable: Yes
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
matchdate
The date on which the match was made between the Unique Delivery Point Reference Number (UDPRN) and the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN).
Data Types: Date (GPKG), Date (CSV)
Nullable: true
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
matchmethod
The method by which the match was made.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: matchmethodvalue
Max Length: 10
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
matchingorganisation
Describes the organisation which made the match between the Royal Mail record and the Local Authority record.
Data Types: String (GPKG), String (CSV)
Nullable: true
Code List Name: matchingorganisationvalue
Max Length: 25
OS Select+Build Filterable: No
Data Schema Version: 1.1, 2.0
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