Buildings are added (or removed) from the list by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Listing, Archaeology and World Heritage branch, on the advice of specialist inspectors employed by English Heritage. A building is added in 1 of 3 ways:
- Periodic re-survey of a borough or district
- Studies of particular building types, for example post-war housing
- Spot listing of individual buildings under threat
- There is no requirement to consult the owners before a building is listed but unless an inspector is aware of a specific threat, they will contact the owner or leave a visiting card.
There is also no right of appeal against a listing and no right to compensation for loss of redevelopment opportunities.