How to fix Address list

DireEmblem · 14 Apr 2020 at 12:55

So, I've been given a list of incomplete UK Addresses, and tasked with finding a way to verify and complete the data.

I've had a quick look online - Royal Mail for example would allow you to run up to 50 requests a day, and more and you hit a paywall.

Any thoughts on other sources. The list is in excel, but I'll happily convert into SQL and write javascript if I can find an alternative source!

Hyburnate · 14 Apr 2020 at 13:11

Royal Mail I'd expect is the best source.

How many addresses are you working with?

Hades · 14 Apr 2020 at 14:16

Theer was an attempt to produce an open source list of addresses. But it hit legal issues and was closed down.

The Post Office Address File (PAF) appears to be the only accurate and complete source.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Open_Addresses_UK

AHarvey · 14 Apr 2020 at 18:03

Yes, you'll need to pass it through PAF but it's not perfect and can often struggle with odd addresses or flat's.

There is another way but I can't recall the name and I'd need to log in to work to check.

How many are we talking about here and is this a one-off or is it likely there are going to be further requests to do this?

https://www.poweredbypaf.com/

You could try contacting them as a microbusiness and get a year free https://www.poweredbypaf.com/licenc...nts/pricing/pricing-essentials-microbuisness/

or a 30 day free trial from one of their software suppliers https://addressnow.royalmail.com/?cid=AD1019_POW_DD_02

DireEmblem · 14 Apr 2020 at 18:05

Thanks all - checked out PAF briefly and it looks pretty decent. I have about 200,000 addresses to parse and check.

AHarvey · 14 Apr 2020 at 18:11

DireEmblem said:
Thanks all - checked out PAF briefly and it looks pretty decent. I have about 200,000 addresses to parse and check.

do you have any budget for it?

Frozennova · 17 Apr 2020 at 15:56

I did something similar with Googles Geocoding API a few years back for another OCUK Member

Goksly · 20 Apr 2020 at 01:00

Yeah I'd do Google. With a few accounts and over a small time period you'll be able to do it for free.

Azza · 25 Apr 2020 at 16:58

DireEmblem said:
So, I've been given a list of incomplete UK Addresses, and tasked with finding a way to verify and complete the data.

I've had a quick look online - Royal Mail for example would allow you to run up to 50 requests a day, and more and you hit a paywall.

Any thoughts on other sources. The list is in excel, but I'll happily convert into SQL and write javascript if I can find an alternative source!

Use one of the Ordnance Survey APIs.

https://developer.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/

gpuerrilla · 26 Apr 2020 at 10:47

I used the geo key thing from google and with help from @Frozennova using python - ran a scrypt every day to the cap. I got about 52k records i needed- I asked post office and they wanted money or subscription and ran out of time to go down the not for profit route.

Ed-

Lol didnt see you post already mate:

Frozennova said:
I did something similar with Googles Geocoding API a few years back for another OCUK Member