Good, Bad and Ugly awards for Chester are announced

The civic trust, which celebrates its 63rd year in 2023, has revealed the honours, some deserving and some dubious.

Peter Hadfield, chairman of the judging panel, said: “These annual awards are based on nominations from our members. They aim to recognise the best changes to the Chester property scene in the past year.

"We hope they will encourage higher standards of design and maintenance in our public realm. As always, I would like to thank my fellow judges for their time and commitment visiting and providing insightful comments on the nominations.

“Members of the Chester Civic Trust (CCT) excelled this year with a total of 92 nominations. 49 Bad/Ugly nominations were submitted together with 43 Good nominations.

"All categories included an interesting mix of nominations; once again it was good to see some from outside the city.

"There were two nominated projects which the judges declined to consider this year. The first is the retail/leisure part of the Northgate Development; so many of the units are empty or being fitted out that it still looks unfinished. The second is Chester Zoo’s Nature Recovery Corridor where work is still ongoing. We expect both these projects will be ready for consideration next year and expect nominations to be submitted.”

The Chair’s Special Award: The Regeneration of The Rows

The Rows.

Judges said: “Regeneration of The Rows during 2022 is a tribute to the partnership of all involved, whether it be the Council, the Architects, BID, or the owners of the cafes, bars and shops. The work sympathetically undertaken by the contractors includes the careful repair and redecoration of Chester’s unique historic asset with much improved lighting colour and levels. It is great to see some restorative maintenance being done on these important assets; long may it continue.”

Good awards (and judges' comments)

The Abbey Gateway

Abbey Gateway.

"In recent years it has looked very neglected and in poor repair with, for example, weeds growing out of its distinctive red sandstone masonry. Over 2022 it has been repaired and restored befitting its historic significance and prime location. Hopefully such maintenance sets an example to encourage work on other buildings across the city.”

The Former Post Office Building, St John Street

The Former Post Office Building, St John Street.

"It is good to see a city centre building brought back into use when so many are empty and deteriorating.”

Blacon Parade and adjacent housing

Blacon Parade and housing.

Environment/Climate Change Good Award - It Shouldn’t Be in the Dee

It Shouldn’t Be in the Dee.

The Welsh Dee Trust-backed initiative has seen 140 individuals collect a total of 265 bags of litter from the River Dee and its feeder brooks and streams.

Good Commendation - Environment/Climate Change - Chester Cathedral & Hoole Food Market

Chester Cathedral solar panels being blessed.

“We just had to include this photo of blessing the solar panels and Hoole Food Market with its green, sustainable policy.”

Hoole Food Market.

Good Commendation - the Art House Café, Bridge Street

Art House Cafe.

“This is a welcome independent addition to the centre of town, providing both an extremely pleasant café and various art and craft workshops."

Good Commendation - Chester Cathedral Pilgrims Porch

Chester Cathedral Pilgrims Porch.

"The new doors installed inside the historic main doors to the west front of the cathedral are not only interesting but also allow visitors to the city to see the view of the cathedral nave, inviting them into the building. The view is particularly stunning at night when there is an event on in the cathedral."

Bad and Ugly awards (with judges' comments)

The Flat Sheds and Dry Dock/Graving Dock in the Canal Basin

The Flat Sheds and Dry Dock/Graving Dock in the Canal Basin.

"Once a vibrant attraction for Canalside visitors and a useful facility for the boating fraternity it seems in dire need of structural repair and re-slating.”

St Olaves and the former Quicks Building, Lower Bridge Street

St Olaves and the former Quicks Building, Lower Bridge Street.

"In an ideal world this would be a site to develop some sympathetic 21st Century architecture that adds to Chester’s architectural heritage.”

Dee House

Dee House.

“A controversial site for many, many years, but we believe it deserves to be flagged-up again as Bad and Ugly until its present derelict and unsightly state (and the impasse over its fate) is resolved."

Off The Wall, Pepper Street

Off the Wall.

"While the lower building appears to have had a new roof, the higher part of the premises (especially its roof area) remains an eye-sore with some broken panes, some boarded-up windows, some windows covered by loose flapping fabric and with vegetation growing out of areas of the brickwork."

Collapsed Section of the City Wall

Collapsed City Walls.

"The lack of progress with the repair and restatement of this section of the wall is very disappointing."

The Recorder’s Steps

The Recorder's Steps.

"The support structure under The Recorder's Steps has been in place for an inexcusable number of years now."

Scaffolding Support

Rufus Court scaffolding.

“This scaffolding has been in place behind Rufus Court for so long that they could almost be a heritage feature in its own right!"

St Martin’s Gate

St Martin's Gate.

“The steps here have been propped-up for many years providing an image of neglect and lack of maintenance."

Diocesan House, Raymond Street

Diocesan House, Raymond Street.

"The condition is now visibly declining, to the point where a new use is becoming urgent."

Facade of Lecture Theatre of Independent Church and adjacent Garden, Queen's Place

Facade of Lecture Theatre of Independent Church and adjacent Garden, Queen's Place.

"The façade and garden used to form a pleasant end to Queen's Place and screens off the adjacent Tesco service yard."

Artillery Store and Adjacent Area, Chester Castle

Artillery Store and Adjacent Area, Chester Castle.

"People using the wall walkway are confronted by the unsightly derelict state of the former Artillery Store and neighbouring structures together with the overgrown and unkempt land in front of them."

New Market Car Park

New Market Car Park.

While also nominated in the 'Good' category, judges agreed it was "out of scale for Chester", that it "wipes out all vistas from one of the best sites for viewing the Welsh hills in Chester" and runs contrary to trying to "discourage people from driving into the centre of the city".

The judges were Peter Hadfield (Chair), Steve Wright, Graham and Sarah Catlin, Sue Denly, Eileen Willshaw and Michael Scammell.