Wakefield Civic Society Design Awards 2026 Announced
Wakefield Civic Society announced their latest round of Design Awards at the Society’s Annual General Meeting and Award evening held at Wakefield Town Hall on Thursday evening, 23rd April 2026. The awards recognised projects that came to completion during 2025.
In total, seven projects were recognised – three Design Awards and four Commendations being shared by just three developers.
New Build Category
In a year rather short on new build completions, a commendation was issued to developer Rushbond for a development of 9 new 3-bedroom town houses built in Gills Yard (pictured above). These houses are built for sale and have their own private garden area and allocated car parking spaces. (The development is part of a larger residential project – marketed as the Wood Street Collection – now nearing completion and the Society’s judges will revisit the scheme in the next round of Design Awards in 2027 when they will consider the houses still under construction.)
Refurbishment Category
Nominations in this category were older properties that had been brought back into use after sympathetic restoration and refurbishment.
A commendation was given to Fibre Construction (proprietor Matt Focarelli) for the conversion of an old commercial property at 9b Bread Street into a single home – see photo left.
The property, shown left, is over three floors and shows an imaginative adaptation for residential use.
A second commendation in this category was given to Rushbond for their refurbishment of two Georgian properties at 6-8 Bond Terrace, pictured below.
Formerly in use as offices, the properties have been converted for use as a sales and administration office for the houses and flats being created by the developer as part of the Wood Street project. Tasteful interior refurbishment and an overhaul of the exterior, together with the addition of a striking mural on the gable end facing over Gills Yard both enhance and enliven the site.
Two Awards were made in this category.
The first of these was also presented to Rushbond for the refurbishment and conversion of the former police superintendent’s house in Wood Street, latterly part of the Wood Street police station, pictured left.
This property is now a 4-bedroom home, Wood House, and is offered for sale by Fallowdale Homes under the banner of the Wood Street Collection.
The second Award was presented to Henley Restoration and Remedials for their refurbishment of Phoenix Mill at Tileyard North (below). The once derelict building has now been completely refurbished after extensive restoration work carried out by the company to the design of architects Hawkins\Brown on behalf of developer City and Provincial. The judges noted the quality of the work undertaken which included partial demolition and reconstruction made more complex because the property fronts onto the River Calder.
Best Shop Front Category
A single commendation was presented in this category and this went to Matt Focarrelli of Fibre Construction for the conversion of 9a Bread Street – a new shop with a flat above. As part of the Bread Streat improvement scheme, this project (along with 9b Bread Street already mentioned) benefitted from a shop front grant from Wakefield Council.
Public House, Café/Bar, or Restaurant Frontage
While the judges were pleased to note that a number of new establishments had opened over the last 12 months, a sign of continued confidence in the city centre, none of the new bars and restaurants had undertaken refurbishment work significant enough to merit an award or commendation in the opinion of the judging panel.
Residential Category (6 units or more)
The final award was presented to Rushbond for their project to convert the former police station in Wood Street into apartments to rent. This was a major project to bring the police station with its commanding presence on Wood Street back into use. Work had been undertaken to restore the fabric of the building – including the roof and replacement windows – as well as interior refurbishment to provide 33 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. As well as communal sitting rooms, the development also offers access to a shared garden space.
Prizes were presented to recipients by the Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor Maureen Tennant King who offered her congratulations in a speech bringing the event to a close. The Mayor also thanked the Society for the work it does, and has done for over 60 years, to promote an interest in architecture, planning and design.