Listing: It Isn't Only Buildings

The case of Dill v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Another [UKSC2019/0001] reached the Supreme Court this week. The case raises the question of what can be listed in its own right. It concerns a pair of 18^th century lead urns on limestone piers which were placed in the gardens of a Grade II listed house when it was bought by the current owner's father in 1973. The urns were subsequently listed in their own right. The appellant in the case contends that, as they were not themselves buildings, they could and should not have been listed. The Supreme Court judgement on the point is awaited.

The case highlights the fact that, in addition to buildings, a variety of structures and objects have been protected by being listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The Courts have long held that "building" includes "any structure or erection which can be said to form part of the land and to change the physical