Architecture-based on delightful styles of historic north Essex houses has won a new accolade for top architects Reeves Bailey for their designs at Chelmsford's Bishops Mead development.

The Chelmsford Society has awarded a link-terraced multi-faceted group of homes its 2001 Design Award. The estate has been constructed by Bryant Homes and is one of many projects looked at by the Society judges in a year of wide choice and lots of construction projects in the bustling county town.

The award goes to the best-looking building that was substantially constructed during the year of the award.

Mark Reeves is applauded by the society for "a good looking building harmonious with its surroundings and a credit to Chelmsford".

It is hoped that the award organised by the Society's Bruce Buckley will be presented outside the building later this month.

Other nominations for the award included the former Bolingbroke and Wenley Furniture Store at Cuton Mill, Springfield, which has recently undergone a huge conversion into Band Q's new Megastore, homes at Chancellor Avenue, The Oaks, Great Baddow and new flats opposite St John's Hospital in Wood Street, Chelmsford.

The society at the same time condemns seven locations as eyesores in its regular 'Attic of Horrors'.

These include the cleared site opposite the Civic Centre for the planned Zeus Restaurant; the old gasworks dominating the rekindling of business and creation of a community at Waterside; the Cooper Hirst saleroom at Victoria Road; the old Marconi buildings immediately opposite Chelmsford Police Station which are now subject to redevelopment plans; the former electricity company buildings in Beehive Lane "deteriorating fast" and the bus station which they still call "scruffy, smelly and an embarrassment to the county town".

An attempt at painting the bus station has been criticised because only the ground floor has been done and the upstairs remains dirty.

Published Monday, March 11, 2002