Design Awards 2026 : Pontefract Civic Society

Design Awards 2025 – Place, People and Pride

Pontefract Civic Society recently hosted its Design Awards for 2025 where Pontefract Town Hall was packed with guest nominees, in fact, the biggest event in its long history, with awards being presented by returning guest speaker, Cllr Darren Byford, Wakefield Council.

Civic Society Chair, Paul Cartwright gave a brief welcome before handing over proceedings to Planning Group Coordinator, Canon Andrew Sage, who said “These awards are about more than buildings. They are about place, people, and pride. Pontefract is a town with a rich architectural heritage – from medieval structures and historic yards to modern civic buildings and new residential developments. How we care for, adapt, and design our buildings today shapes how future generations will experience the town.

The Pontefract Civic Society Design Awards recognise projects that respect our past, serve present needs, and contribute positively to the town’s future”.

Cllr Darren Byford, thanked Paul Cartwright for showing leadership in Pontefract for achieving the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, supported a group of active volunteers, and in congratulating the winners, he went onto say, “the town is very lucky to have a very active civic society that does more than many other similar societies”.

At the close of the event, Paul Cartwright congratulated all the winners, and Canon Andrew Sage went on to thank both Paul & Christine Cartwright for everything that have done for the civic society over the years, not least, in managing the design awards.

Awards presented on the night were:

The civic society presented the Countess of Rosse Façade of the Year award to Taylored Holmes for a strong contemporary design enhancing the shop frontage on a busy artery through the town.

Christine Peacock, Taylored Holmes said “we are delighted and honoured to have been awarded Facade of the Year 2025. Restoring the much loved Tordoff’s shop with the respect it deserved has been hard work, but amazing at the same time. We are proud to have retained its warm homely character which it deserves. This award means the world to us and reflects our commitment to the building and Pontefract. We extend our sincere thanks to the civic society for recognising our efforts and hard work”.