Join our mailing list
Jargon Buster
Planning Terms
Light pollution is defined as “any adverse (or bad) effect as a result of man-made lights.” Usually, this means too much light. Several species, including plants and humans, are badly affected by light pollution.
A building is listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting.
As the term implies, a listed building is actually added to a list: the National Heritage List for England. You can use this to discover whether your home is listed and if so, what grade it is.
You may also be able to find out what is particularly significant about the building. Some listing records are more detailed than others. Restrictions are there to protect the historic significance of the building.
Listed buildings come in three categories of 'significance':
- Grade I for buildings of the highest significance
- Grade II* and
- Grade II
Most listed building owners are likely to live in a Grade II building as these make up 92% of all listed buildings.
Any building or structure which is included in the list of 'buildings of special architectural or historic interest' as defined in the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.