(1)For the purposes of this Act and with a view to the guidance of planning authorities in the performance of their functions under this Act in relation to buildings of special architectural or historic interest, the Secretary of State shall compile lists of such buildings or approve, with or without modifications, such lists compiled by other persons or bodies of persons, and may amend any list so compiled or approved.
(2)In considering whether to include a building in a list compiled or approved under this section, the Secretary of State may take into account not only the building itself but also—
(a)any respect in which its exterior contributes to the architectural or historic interest of any group of buildings of which it forms part, and
(b)the desirability of preserving, on the ground of its architectural or historic interest, any feature of the building consisting of a man-made object or structure fixed to the building or forming part of the land and comprised within the curtilage of the building.
(3)Before compiling or approving, with or without modifications, any list under this section or amending any such list the Secretary of State shall consult such persons or bodies of persons as appear to him appropriate as having special knowledge of, or interest in, buildings of architectural or historic interest.
(4)In this Act “listed building” means a building which is for the time being included in a list compiled or approved by the Secretary of State under this section; and, for the purposes of this Act, the following shall be treated as part of the building—
(a)any object or structure fixed to the building, and
(b)any object or structure within the curtilage of the building which, though not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since before 1st July 1948.
(5)Schedule 1 (which makes provision as to the treatment as listed buildings of certain buildings formerly subject to building preservation orders) shall have effect.