diff --git a/src/backend/app/db/postgis_utils.py b/src/backend/app/db/postgis_utils.py
index 9a3b146228..6c1cf55b1f 100644
--- a/src/backend/app/db/postgis_utils.py
+++ b/src/backend/app/db/postgis_utils.py
@@ -537,7 +537,9 @@ def get_address_from_lat_lon(latitude, longitude):
     }
     headers = {"Accept-Language": "en"}  # Set the language to English
 
-    log.debug("Getting Nominatim address from project centroid")
+    log.debug(
+        f"Getting Nominatim address from project lat ({latitude}) lon ({longitude})"
+    )
     response = requests.get(base_url, params=params, headers=headers)
     if (status_code := response.status_code) != 200:
         log.error(f"Getting address string failed: {status_code}")
diff --git a/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py b/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
index d3525b8fd7..17ccc06d61 100644
--- a/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
+++ b/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
@@ -149,8 +149,7 @@ class ProjectIn(BaseModel):
     task_num_buildings: Optional[int] = None
     data_extract_type: Optional[str] = None
     outline_geojson: Union[FeatureCollection, Feature, Polygon]
-    # city: str
-    # country: str
+    location_str: Optional[str] = None
 
     @computed_field
     @property
@@ -170,17 +169,6 @@ def centroid(self) -> Optional[Any]:
             return None
         return write_wkb(read_wkb(self.outline).centroid)
 
-    @computed_field
-    @property
-    def location_str(self) -> Optional[str]:
-        """Compute geocoded location string from centroid."""
-        if not self.centroid:
-            return None
-        geom = read_wkb(self.centroid)
-        latitude, longitude = geom.y, geom.x
-        address = get_address_from_lat_lon(latitude, longitude)
-        return address if address is not None else ""
-
     @computed_field
     @property
     def project_name_prefix(self) -> str:
@@ -201,6 +189,27 @@ def prepend_hash_to_tags(cls, hashtags: List[str]) -> Optional[List[str]]:
 
         return hashtags_with_hash
 
+    @model_validator(mode="after")
+    def generate_location_str(self) -> Self:
+        """Generate location string after centroid is generated.
+
+        NOTE chaining computed_field didn't seem to work here so a
+        model_validator was used for final stage validation.
+        """
+        if not self.centroid:
+            log.warning("Project has no centroid, location string not determined")
+            return self
+
+        if self.location_str is not None:
+            # Prevent running triggering multiple times if already set
+            return self
+
+        geom = read_wkb(self.centroid)
+        latitude, longitude = geom.y, geom.x
+        address = get_address_from_lat_lon(latitude, longitude)
+        self.location_str = address if address is not None else ""
+        return self
+
 
 class ProjectUpload(ProjectIn, ODKCentralIn):
     """Project upload details, plus ODK credentials."""