In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure recognized for its significant architectural or historic interest, granted special legal protection. These structures are placed on statutory lists maintained by national heritage bodies such as Historic England and Historic Environment Scotland, and while mainly buildings, the protection extends to other significant structures like bridges, monuments, and even the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing. Owners face strict regulations; they cannot demolish, extend, or alter a listed building without specific permission from local authorities and may be compelled to perform repairs using particular materials, with criminal prosecution possible for non-compliance. The system originated from efforts to protect buildings damaged during World War II, with formal legislation like the Town and Country Planning Acts of 1947 establishing the comprehensive listing process across the UK. While distinct from "scheduled monuments" for ancient structures, the concept extends to the Republic of Ireland where similar protections apply to "protected structures."