As the person who revised and rewrote the list of listed buildings for York in the early 1990s, perhaps I could answer the questions raised by GB Ledger ("Is this Swan listed?", Letters, July 10).

The questions were whether the White Swan Hotel in Piccadilly is a listed building, and if not, why not.

The White Swan is not a listed building. There are several reasons why not. The first is that there is a guideline cut-off date for listing of 1840. Before that date, more or less any historic building which survives reasonably intact is likely to be listed. After that date, a building may be listed, but there will have to be a particular reason.

The definition for inclusion on the statutory list is that a building or structure must be of architectural or historic interest. In the case of the White Swan, the building was only built after Piccadilly was created in 1911 to enable the new electric trams to operate between the city centre and Hull Road.

In the process of making the new road, an area of decaying medieval houses linking Pavement and Coppergate was pulled down, among which was the old White Swan Inn. The inn was rebuilt in its present position, retaining its old name.

In terms of its architectural interest, although it sits well in its position and fits well into its context beside genuine timber-framed medieval buildings in Coppergate, it would be difficult to claim its architectural quality is of special interest.

Regrettably, it would not qualify for statutory listing. Perhaps someone would like to nominate the building for inclusion on the non-statutory List Of Local Buildings Of Special Interest now being compiled by the York Open Planning Forum.

Alison Sinclair,

Norfolk Street,

Bishopthorpe Road,

York

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, July 15, 2004