For buildings, a UPRN provides a comprehensive, complete, consistent identifier throughout its life cycle, from planning permission through to demolition. For example, the UPRN for 10 Downing Street is 100023336956, and that for Bristol Central Library is 000000199356.

The UPRN is the unique identifier for every addressable location in Great Britain. UPRNs can be used for addressable locations such as residential and commercial buildings and for objects which may not have a typical address for example, an electricity substation or a bus shelter.