• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

Full UK Postcode Address Database

Mort

Mort

Mort

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
1,312
Location
Milton Keynes
Hey all

Looking to lay my hands on a UK full address postcode database. Want to create a PHP address completion script. Now I know these databases are available from the post office, but post codes are surely public domain, so does anyone know of a location where I could lay my hands on this for free?

If I am breaking any rules then apologies to the mods.

Cheers in advance

Chris
 
i can find this data in many places where its not dodgy.

but it sure as hell doesnt come for cheap / free

that doesnt make the other site illegal.
 
The licensing on the Post Office PAF file is a nightmare. We're having to charge £150 per machine that will need to use it. They do get periodic update CDs though.

I've written an app to parse and import it into an SQL DB. Find it much more useful that way.
 
ahh right, so you work for the post office?

That £150, is that also as a web license? That SQL importer could b v handy :)
 
No I don't work for the post office. I work for a bespoke development company, one of our clients wanted to be able to have a postcode lookup, have to get the postcodes from somewhere so we looked around. There are some third party tools that I believe include postcode updates but they seemed expensive so we decided to make our own importer/updater based on the RM PAF (Postal Address File).

The importer works fine atm, populating address business objects from the sql but the client hasn't started paying for the next phase of development so haven't started on the PAF update files. All of which is besides the point I suppose, because it's not in the public domain. However, if you get the trial CD from the postoffice (details on the website) you only have to write a parser to pull out the individual elements.

Each of the files in the PAF is well documented so you know in advance to break the postcode at character 3 and that the length is always 7 etc. It's not too hard to do.

With regard to the licensing costs and limitations I'd have a word with them about it, I haven't spoken with the RM directly, was just told there were issues with wanting to use it direct on the web.

You can find resellers and suppliers of PAF related products through their site http://www.royalmail.com/paf/

Hope that helps.
 
TreeUK said:
You can find resellers and suppliers of PAF related products through their site http://www.royalmail.com/paf/
Click to expand...
omg I just looked and they still use 1/2" tape :eek:

I had a look at a couple of packages for work, to be honest all of them where pritty poor. Postcode address verification doesn't seem to be a cutting edge industry, so the software looks and behaves like something from the 90s...

One of the better ones I found was : http://www.satorisoftware.co.uk/UK/index.asp

akakjs
 
There is a webservice you can buy in per look up for update postcode checks. Not sure of the price and can't remember the company name but i am sure a quick google will provide the answer but i am too lazy atm.
 
We use Matchcode's Capscan which incorporates the PAF but also allows us to get lat/longs of each address. Seeing as how the annual cost runs well into five figures tho' I expect that's not much use to you.

BTW, I would suspect that getting the PAF, importing it into a SQL DB and then selling on is almost certainly illegal.
 
MikeTimbers, assuming that last was directed at me. You're quite right, that's why we're passing the cost of a licence per machine on to the customers. The import app works locally so it's manipulating their own data, all above board. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom