[Talk-GB] OSM UK address project: tags - Updated guidance

[Rob Nickerson]

Hi Ed,

Your example opens up an interesting question: should we include the word
"Flat" and "Unit" in the key value? Right now, as you have the mapped, then
converting the tags into an addressed envelope will result in both Flat 1
and Unit 1 having the same address:

1 Clifton House
Merridale Road
Wolverhampton
WV3 9RY

Unless of course you make the assumption that, when writing out an address,
if addr:flats has been used write out "Flat 1" whilst if addr:unit has been
used write out "Unit 1". Personally I think this is a bad assumption to
make. My reason is because what happens if the address is "Apartment 1" or
"Suite 1" instead? Do we create addr:apartment and addr:suite tags? Where
does it stop?! (When Simon points out we are up to 20 UK specific tags!!
:-P)

I think it is much better to include the full reference in the tag value.
So if both are mapped as individual properties then addr:unit="Flat 1" for
the first and addr:unit="Unit 1" for the second.

For reference, including "Unit " in the name is what others seem to do.
Examples from Food Hygiene Ratings (open data as far as I know):

https://www.foodhygieneratings.org.uk/raj-meat-centre-wolverhampton
https://www.foodhygieneratings.org.uk/merridale-supermarket-wolverhampton

And the same also in the (closed data) postcode lookup on RM's Find an
Address service.

P.S. It might help to think about what you would do if you came across
something with the address "Apartment 1". What tag key and value would you
use? Not a hypothetical question - we already have addresses in the UK that
use "Apartment 1" rather than "Flat 1". I suspect many more will follow due
to the increasing perception that "“flat" connotes a residence of lesser
quality, while “apartment" refers to a flat that's more upscale and
luxurious" [1].

Best regards,
*Rob*

[1] https://www.rent.com/blog/apartment-vs-flat/
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