Royal Mail Post Boxes

Traditional red post boxes are a valued part of the local scene. They are street furniture which are both a useful local amenity and a reassuring sight.

On 15 July 2015 Historic England and Royal Mail published a renewed statement of their joint commitment to finding the best ways to ensure that post boxes are retained and well cared for wherever possible.

This document contains Royal Mail's policy commitment to retain all post boxes in operational service in their existing positions (unless circumstances or operational need mean that they have to be relocated or removed). It also sets out Royal Mail's standards for the repair, refurbishment and repainting of post boxes to retain them in good order, following traditional painting schemes. Historic England, for their part, sets out how the listing of post boxes has been handled in the past and will be in future. The rarest and oldest examples have already been recognised by listing, and if the Royal Mail policy of retention is followed, it is unlikely that many further post boxes will be listed. Both parties recognise, however, their importance as heritage assets, whether listed or not.