ARCHITECTS in Worcester have been told to sharpen their minds as well as their pencils after a building design contest found no winner.

For only the second time in the Civic Award's 23 years, no project in the city was considered worthy of taking the top prize.

Architects and designers were told by the seven judges that they hope next year's competition will provide "a better representation of high quality modern design that an historic city like Worcester deserves to have".

"The aim of the competition is to recognise projects that have gone just that little bit further beyond what might be considered 'the call of duty' in terms of design and enhancing Worcester's landscape," said the city council's conservation officer, Will Scott.

"Sadly though, this year the panel considered it regrettable and of concern that there were no good examples of contemporary modern architecture that could be considered worthy of an Award this year."

The city council received a total of 20 initial entries but found three that could warrant only commendations.

Judges hit out at the Neil Grinnall Homes redevelopment of Hewin Works, in Diglis Road, for being an "anywhere piece of design" not as good as examples in Cardiff or Bristol. "The frontages to both Diglis Road and the canal are disappointing," they added.

Neil Grinnall, chairman of Neil Grinnall Homes, defended the design.

"Diglis Court is situated on Diglis Road in central Worcester," he said. "Formerly the Hewin Works industrial site, this scheme has been acknowledged by many as a key catalyst for Worcester's canalside living phenomenon.

"We believe that the contemporary clean lines of the architecture reflect the scheme's canalside location while greatly enhancing the street scene and reflecting the residential status of the area.

"People vote with their feet. Nineteen of the 21 apartments and townhouses at Diglis Court were snapped up within hours of being released onto the marketplace and the scheme was fully sold before the first occupiers moved in over a year ago."

The trio of commended buildings was the Kingsway English Centre, in Foregate Street, Belmont House, in Bransford Road, St John's, and number 14 The Foregate, owned by the Hopmarket Charity.

Previous winners of the award - which was also not awarded in 1994 - include the former Worcester Engineering factory, in Navigation Road, Diglis, Huntingdon Hall, and the Museum of Worcester Porcelain.

The judges included the Dean of Worcester, the Very Rev Peter Marshall; chairman of the Worcestershire Society of Chartered Architects, Helen Wooton; the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Allah Ditta; Worcester Civic Society chairman Chris Shaw and the city council's planning committee chairman, Coun Robert Rowden.