Search on for York’s best new buildings

The city's Lord Mayor, Coun Janet Hopton, has launched the York Design Award to celebrate the "best of the best" designs and renovations.

Coun Hopton has been involved with planning issues for the last seven years as part of her role as a city councillor. She said: "York and its surrounding villages have a lovely heritage and some very fine buildings.

"I feel very strongly that we all have a duty to contribute to this and see design as being fundamental in ensuring that schemes are of the highest quality, and still in keeping with their surroundings."

The award is open to all new builds, including domestic and residential, commercial and community and conservation, conversion and landscape developments, within the City of York Council boundary, completed between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2006.

There will be a single overall York Design Award, as well as awards in individual categories.

Coun Hopton said she had wanted to launch an award scheme for design during her term of office as Lord Mayor.

She said: "I hope that the award will encourage all those responsible for new buildings to contribute to York's future heritage by recognising and striving for good design."

The annual York Design Award will be judged by an independent panel with expertise in architecture, planning, sustainability and conservation, chaired by architecture writer and critic Ken Powell. It has been launched by a partnership including York Civic Trust, York Guild of Building, English Heritage, City of York Council, York Professional Initiative and a number of local architects.

An application form and more information is available from the council's civic services officer on 01904 551011 or civicenquiries@york.gov.uk. The closing date for applications is February 17, and the winners will be announced at the end of March, with an award ceremony to be held in the Mansion House after Easter.