In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of "exceptional architectural or historic special interest"; Grade I structures are those considered to be "buildings of "exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important.
The total number of listed buildings in England is 372,905.
[1] Listing was begun by a provision in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947.
Listing a building imposes severe restrictions on what the owner might wish to change or modify in the structure or its fittings.
In England, the authority for listing under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990[2] rests with English Heritage, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.