VIGILANCE is essential if York is to maintain its “highly-prized special character” according to three of the country’s top architectural professionals.

Architectural critic Ken Powell, historic buildings adviser Peter de Figueiredo and Emma England, director of the Royal Institute of British Architects in Yorkshire, were speaking while in the city to judge entries in this year’s York Design Awards.

Mr Powell, chairman of the judging panel, said: “To retain its character and appeal for both tourists and the people who live in York, the city must help maintain and support the individual businesses that keep the centre unique. “York has a tradition of radical intervention matched by careful restoration and again we’ve been impressed by the standard of the 25 entries vying for this year’s awards.”

The awards are now in their fourth year and recognise the city’s best buildings and restoration projects.

The judges met yesterday to decide which of the 25 buildings best met the competition’s criteria.

Fellow judge, Peter de Figueiredo said: “It is vital that we respect the historic character of existing buildings. That doesn’t mean new buildings can’t be added too, but it needs to be done with quality of craftsmanship and first class contemporary design.”

He said the spaces between the buildings mattered as much as the buildings themselves.

He said: “City of York Council is striving especially hard in this regard, to its credit.

“People need quiet, pleasant and enjoyable spaces within urban developments.” This year’s winners will be announced at an awards dinner to be held at De Grey Court at York St John University – the building which won the Lord Mayor’s award last year in 2009.