The best example of good architecture and design were celebrated in Cheltenham last night (May 7).

Cheltenham Civic Society (CCS) organises the town's biennial Civic Awards in conjunction with Cheltenham Borough Council.

For the first time this year, CCS added a category of 'UnCivic' awards for buildings of particularly poor design or execution.

The public were invited to nominate what they considered to be the worst new buildings.

Civic Awards were presented to:

NEW BUILD: The Yard, Upper Park Street

The judges said: "A truly pretty addition to the street. It shows how well a new-build can be integrated into a street without necessarily following the exact architectural palette as the rest of the street."

NEW BUILD: Dolder House, 104 Painswick Road

"Dolder House is a low-slung, contemporary solution to a prominent but small triangular site. Almost hidden behind the exterior brick wall, Dolder House takes advantage of many energy sustainability features which cannot be seen from the road."

RENOVATION & REFURBISHMENT: 54 Tivoli Street

"Consent was granted to divide this unlisted building into two dwellings - a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom house. The judges felt that this was a very tidy renovation, which returns a residential property to this street of neat Cheltenham cottages."

RENOVATION & REFURBISHMENT: Abbeyholme Stables, 73 Lansdown Cresent Lane

"It is a successful restoration that offers a far better approach to the street. It includes upvc windows that have been well designed, proving that the appropriateness of the window pattern is as important as the base materials."

RENOVATION & REFURBISHMENT: St Phillip & St James' Church

"The conversion transformed a dark, formal, heavy-Victorian parish church into a bright, warm, welcoming community space that is full of delightful design details and thoughtful touches. This is exemplary at every level. Immaculate attention to detail at every point in the renovation. The thought and consideration brought to each element, each detail and addition is a lesson in how to evolve a historic building without compromise."

RENOVATION & REFURBISHMENT: 77 Albion Street

"The judges were pleased to see a previously run-down corner property being returned to full residential use in the town centre. A simple yet commendable effort to improve the street. A superb renovation of this lovely house, back to its former glory in this high-profile location."

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEME: Railings, Imperial Gardens

"It is brilliant to see the reinstatement of the railings around Cheltenham's most iconic and beautiful square. Courtesy of a generous legacy, the Friends of Imperial Square are to be congratulated on delivering this wonderful enhancement, using high-quality materials and local craftsmanship and replicating the original design."

UnCivic Awards were presented to:

Lidl, Cirencester Road

The judges said: "An example of where a much-needed local supermarket amenity could have done so much more for the local architectural landscape, if it were more motivated by community and less by the need to shout about its brand. This is not a site where you need 3-metre square signage at a high level, from every vantage point to announce the store."

Dowty House extension, Monson Avenue

"This fails on every possible count. It is neither in keeping with the original building, nor does it represent contemporary architecture that could juxtapose with the original to bring positive attention to both. It uses an austere brick that has no relevance or place within the context of the original building and has no redeeming quality with its surroundings. The design seems to make no reference at all to the Victorian gothic Dowty House nor to the pleasant Edwardian houses opposite."

Andrew Booton, Cheltenham Civic Society chair, said: "Whilst we congratulate the winners of the Civic Awards this year for their excellent designs and attention to detail, it is worth reminding ourselves that the UnCivic buildings were also developed with the consent of the local planning authority, in sensitive locations for which clear planning guidance exists.

"The lessons we must learn from the UnCivic awards are extensive. We need stronger policies and principles to favour beauty and harmony and to refuse ugliness and inappropriateness, and the will to stand up for beauty and harmony.

"Cheltenham is a beautiful town. We must defend its legacy and reputation for beauty in the public interest and not succumb to ugliness in the interests of anybody's bigger bank balance."