THE architect of a controversial block of flats in York has hit back at a barrage of criticism from fellow designers - saying that the city must "keep progressing".

Nick Midgley runs design firm NMDA, and is the man behind Mawson's Court, a five-storey block of flats near Walmgate, which uses cedar timber cladding and aluminium roofs as part of a radical design.

While developers Helmsley Securities claim the design is "visually stunning", the flats have been panned by local architect Tom Adams, who believes they are too big, and out of character.

But Mr Midgley replied: "To be honest, I quite welcome the comments that have been made.

"They raise the profile of what people are trying to do in York.

"When you work in the York arena, you expect to hear strong views from a traditionalist quarter, and from people who have strong associations with old York.

"The buildings are in scale to the local architecture, and fit into the backdrop of brick and pantile buildings."

He added that they "contributed, rather than contrasted" with what was around them.

"We cannot keep producing a weak pastiche of York as the easy option," he added.

"We need to keep progressing."

He said the controversial roofs, which gleam brightly when they catch the sun, would weather in future so that the effects would not be quite so brilliant.

Backing him was Helmsley Securities' managing director, John Reeves.

He said: "Any cutting edge development will attract criticism from 'dyed-in-the-wool' traditionalists, and in particular from those who have specialised in developing very traditional schemes.

"However, I am pleased to report that the response from the public has been fantastic.

"I would invite readers to contact me if they would like to see the development, rather than be led by the views of people who find it difficult to accept any form of change.

"We are happy to take the chance that the vast majority of those who matter, i.e. residents in this beautiful city of ours, will love this development, both now and in the future."

But, as a result of a request for more comments in the Evening Press, several residents have contacted our offices to criticise the flats.

Among them was Brian Howard, of Fishergate, who said: "I think they're mind-blowingly awful.

"They look like kit-jobs; prefabs from the 1950s. In a town like York, there are masses of restrictions on what you can and can't do, and for very good reasons. I'm amazed that someone has been allowed to do this.

"They'd look more suitable in downtown Nairobi."

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Updated: 10:59 Friday, August 24, 2001