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<title>Postcode Address File</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Postcode Address File</span></span>

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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Not to be confused with <a href="ZIP_(file_format)" title="ZIP (file format)">ZIP (file format)</a>.</div>

<p>The <b>Postcode Address File</b> (<b>PAF</b>) is a database that contains all known <i><a href="Delivery_point" title="Delivery point">delivery points</a></i> and <a href="Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postcodes in the United Kingdom">postcodes in the United Kingdom</a>. The PAF is a collection of over 29 million Royal Mail postal addresses and 1.8 million <a href="Postcode" class="mw-redirect" title="Postcode">postcodes</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is available in a variety of formats including <a href="File_Transfer_Protocol" title="File Transfer Protocol">FTP</a> download and compact disc, and was previously available as <a href="Digital_audio_tape" class="mw-redirect" title="Digital audio tape">digital audio tape</a>. As owner of the PAF, Royal Mail is required by section 116 of the <a href="Postal_Services_Act_2000" title="Postal Services Act 2000">Postal Services Act 2000</a> to maintain the data and make it available on reasonable terms. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data. Charges are regulated by <a href="Ofcom" title="Ofcom">Ofcom</a>. It includes small user residential, small user organisation and large user organisation details. There have been requests as part of the <a href="Open_Data_in_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Open Data in the United Kingdom">Open Data</a> campaign for the PAF to be released by the government free of charge.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Usage">Usage</h2></div>

<p>The "delivery points" held on the PAF are routing instructions used by Royal Mail staff to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately. Elements of the address, including the post town and postcode, are occasionally subject to change, reflecting the operational structure of the postal delivery system. Each address is therefore not necessarily a geographically accurate description of where a property is located.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Buildings which contain internal flats or businesses but have only one external front door will only have those internal elements recorded in PAF if the Royal Mail have direct access to them using a key or fob.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="File_structure">File structure</h2></div>

<p>Royal Mail's Programmers Guide<sup id="cite_ref-pg7v6_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pg7v6-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> lists the following address elements of PAF and their respective maximum field lengths:

</p>

<th>Element</th>

<th>Field name</th>

<th>Description</th>

<th>Max length

</th></tr>

<tr>

<td rowspan="2">Organisation</td>

<td>Organisation Name</td>

<td>60

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Department Name</td>

<td>60

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td rowspan="3">Premises</td>

<td>Sub Building Name</td>

<td>30

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Building Name</td>

<td>50

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Building Number</td>

<td>4

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td rowspan="4">Thoroughfare</td>

<td>Dependent Thoroughfare Name</td>

<td>60

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor</td>

<td>20

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Thoroughfare Name</td>

<td>Street<sup id="cite_ref-alliescomputing1_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alliescomputing1-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td>

<td>60

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Thoroughfare Descriptor</td>

<td>20

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td rowspan="3">Locality</td>

<td>Double Dependent Locality</td>

<td>Small villages<sup id="cite_ref-alliescomputing1_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-alliescomputing1-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td>

<td>35

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td><a href="Post_town#Locality" title="Post town">Dependent Locality</a></td>

<td>35

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>30

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>Postcode</td>

<td><a href="Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postcodes in the United Kingdom">Postcode</a></td>

<td>7

</td></tr>

<tr>

<td>6

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<p>Some versions of the PAF also contain the <i> 'Delivery Point Suffix (DPS)' </i> used in <a href="RM4SCC" title="RM4SCC">CBC (Customer Bar Code)</a>. Alternatively the DPS can be found using Royal Mail's <i> 'Postcode Information File (PIF)'.</i><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Licensing">Licensing</h2></div>

<p>The PAF licence sets out what PAF can be used for. Licensing options include internal and external use and also more advanced options such as bureau services and broker groups.

</p><p>An example of typical internal use is an employee of a licensed call centre who uses a PAF-based solution to look up and verify customer addresses. The PAF data is only being used within the licensed end-user and is not passed on to any other legal entity.

</p><p>On the other hand, an example of external use would be a company which provides a PAF-based address look-up on their customer facing website for their own customers to use when they order goods or services.

</p><p>Royal Mail provide licensing advice on their website.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Public_sector_licence">Public sector licence</h2></div>

<p>Public sector organisations can now use PAF under the public sector licence use terms. The current public sector licence was renewed in April 2023 and runs until 31 March 2028.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>The 2023-2028 public sector licence covers England, Wales and Scotland, and was procured centrally by the Geospatial Commission so that usage is free at the point of use for delivery of vital public services by the UK government, devolved administrations, local authorities, emergency services, health services, and search and rescue organisations. The contract now also incorporates Royal Mail Not Yet Built and Multiple Residence data.

</p><p>The original public sector licence was implemented on 1 April 2015, having been developed by Royal Mail, the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the Scottish government. The public sector licence was centrally paid for by these organisations so individual public sector organisations no longer needed to return PAF licence fees to Royal Mail.

</p><p>Under the original licence, eligible public sector organisations were able to use PAF within their organisation and on their website for non-commercial purposes. In addition, licensed public sector organisations were able to share data with other licensed organisations and work collaboratively on data-led projects. The original licence was available to central government, local government, emergency services, health authorities and search and rescue organisations.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Alias_data">Alias data</h2></div>

<p>The "alias file" is a supplementary file containing additional data which are not part of official postal addresses, including details that have changed over time, or have been amended by the public and then used. This file is used to identify these elements and <a href="Cross-reference" title="Cross-reference">cross-reference</a> with the official postal address.

</p><p>The alias file holds four types of record: locality, thoroughfare, delivery point alias, and county alias:

</p>

<ul><li>The locality record – old short forms, local names, and 'postally-not-required' (PNR) details.</li>

<li>The thoroughfare record – contains replacement street and road names for a given locality, thoroughfare or dependent thoroughfare combination.</li>

<li>The delivery point alias record – holds additional information at given addresses, such as trading names and building names.</li>

<li>The county record – holds <a href="Counties_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Counties of the United Kingdom">traditional</a>, <a href="Administrative_county" title="Administrative county">administrative</a> and <a href="Postal_counties_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postal counties of the United Kingdom">postal county</a> information.</li></ul>

<p>Royal Mail, in their guide to the data products<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> imply that the county alias information was provided when Royal Mail removed the former postal county from the main file.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Errors">Errors</h2></div>

<p>Royal Mail acknowledges that the PAF contains errors, and publishes forms for submitting error reports. A very small number of addresses are not listed correctly, and others (especially new developments) may not be listed at all for a time.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Costs_and_public_availability">Costs and public availability</h2></div>

<p>Between 2004 and 2006 a consultation was taken about the future management of the PAF. The proposal to release it for use at low or no cost was rejected, and the business model where it was used to raise money from profitable corporations was retained.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>The accounts for the PAF for 2005/6 disclosed an income of £18million, 8.6% of which was profit.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Following a government consultation,<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> on 1 April 2010 <a href="Ordnance_Survey" title="Ordnance Survey">Ordnance Survey</a> released co-ordinate data for all Great Britain postcodes (but not their address elements) for re-use free of charge under an attribution-only licence, as part of <a href="Ordnance_Survey#Open_data_releases" title="Ordnance Survey">OS OpenData</a>.

</p>

<ul><li><a href="National_Land_and_Property_Gazetteer" title="National Land and Property Gazetteer">National Land and Property Gazetteer</a></li>

<li><a href="One_Scotland_Gazetteer" title="One Scotland Gazetteer">One Scotland Gazetteer</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160309140048/http://www.poweredbypaf.com/category/paf-stats/">"PAF Stats"</a>. <i>Powered By Paf</i>. Royal Mail Group Ltd. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poweredbypaf.com/category/paf-stats/">the original</a> on 9 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 March</span> 2016</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFArthur2010" class="citation news cs1">Arthur, Charles (22 January 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/22/postcode-petition-fails-blocked-number-ten">"Developers dismayed as No.10 blocks free postcode file"</a>. <i><a href="The_Guardian" title="The Guardian">The Guardian</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070929010447/http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf">"Ofcom | Postal Services"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Government of the United Kingdom. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 29 September 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 June</span> 2013</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-pg7v6-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-pg7v6_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.poweredbypaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Latest-Programmers_guide_Edition-7-Version-6.pdf">"Programmers Guide – Technical specifications for users of PAF® and associated raw data products, Edition 7, Version 6"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a href="Royal_Mail" title="Royal Mail">Royal Mail</a>. 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 August</span> 2022</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-alliescomputing1-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-alliescomputing1_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-alliescomputing1_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.alliescomputing.com/support/how-to-address-uk-mail-correctly">"How to address your UK mail correctly"</a>. alliescomputing.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">12 October</span> 2018</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160302020136/http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/Know%20How%202006%20PIP%20vs%201.6a%20Accepted%20Changes.pdf">"Know how: a user's manual for Mailsort®, Walksort®, Presstream®, Cleanmail®, Presstream® Walksort®, Royal Mail International Bulk Mail™ and Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter®"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>Royal Mail</i>. April 2007. p. 80. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/Know%20How%202006%20PIP%20vs%201.6a%20Accepted%20Changes.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 February</span> 2016</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-sector-access-to-royal-mail-postcode-address-file-agreed-to-2028">Public sector access to Royal Mail Postcode Address File agreed to 2028</a>, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Geospatial Commission, published 20 April 2023, accessed 16 August 2023.</span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/PAF_Digest_Dec_03.pdf">PAF Digest</a>, p12</span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFPostComm" class="citation web cs1">PostComm. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081120062729/http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information.html">"Postcode Address File – review of the management of PAF"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information.html">the original</a> on 20 November 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 October</span> 2009</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090324084021/http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information/PAF_decision_doc.pdf">"Royal Mail's Future management of PAF"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. April 2007. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.psc.gov.uk/postcomm/live/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--management-of-information/PAF_decision_doc.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 24 March 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 October</span> 2009</span>.</cite></span>

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<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconsultation">DCLG: Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey: Consultation</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091230115507/http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconsultation">Archived</a> 30 December 2009 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span>

</li>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poweredbypaf.com">PAF from Royal Mail</a></li></ul>

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</style><div id="Postal_services_in_the_United_Kingdom239" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="Postal_services_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postal services in the United Kingdom">Postal services in the United Kingdom</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Postal geography</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Postcodes_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postcodes in the United Kingdom">Postcodes</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_postcode_areas_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom">List of postcode areas</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_postcode_districts_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="List of postcode districts in the United Kingdom">List of postcode districts</a></li>

<li><a href="Postal_counties_of_the_United_Kingdom" title="Postal counties of the United Kingdom">Postal counties</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_post_towns_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="List of post towns in the United Kingdom">List of post towns</a></li>

<li><a href="London_postal_district" title="London postal district">London postal district</a></li>

<li><a href="Mailsort" title="Mailsort">Mailsort</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Organisations<br></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="British_Forces_Post_Office" title="British Forces Post Office">British Forces Post Office</a></li>

<li><a href="PayPoint" title="PayPoint">Collect+</a></li>

<li><a href="FedEx" title="FedEx">FedEx</a></li>

<li><a href="InPost" title="InPost">InPost</a></li>

<li><a href="Parcelforce" title="Parcelforce">Parcelforce</a></li>

<li><a href="Post_Office_Limited" title="Post Office Limited">Post Office</a></li>

<li><a href="Royal_Mail" title="Royal Mail">Royal Mail</a></li>

<li><a href="Whistl" title="Whistl">Whistl</a></li>

<li><a href="Yodel_(company)" title="Yodel (company)">Yodel</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Philately</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_Great_Britain" class="mw-redirect" title="Postage stamps and postal history of Great Britain">Postage stamps and postal history</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Infrastructure</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Royal_Mail#Mail_centres" title="Royal Mail">Mail centres</a></li>

<li><a href="Royal_Mail#Integrated_mail_processing" title="Royal Mail">Integrated mail processing</a></li>

<li><a href="Royal_Mail#Intelligent_letter_sorting_machines" title="Royal Mail">Intelligent Letter Sorting Machines</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="British_Overseas_Territories" title="British Overseas Territories">British Overseas Territories</a> and <a href="Crown_Dependencies" title="Crown Dependencies">Crown Dependencies</a> have <a href="List_of_postal_entities" title="List of postal entities">different operators</a> and regulatory arrangements.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-06-05" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Postcode_Address_File&oldid=1294118615">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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