Innovative and environmentally-friendly new buildings impressed the judges in this year’s Ilkley Civic Society Design and Conservation Awards.

A total of 25 recent building developments were nominated for awards by Ilkley people in recognition of their good design.

The society, which promotes high standards of planning and architecture, is keen to secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of noted landmark features.

But it also wants to encourage good design in new building schemes in the town and reward environmental improvements.

The number of nominations was up this year, with new build schemes gaining the highest accolades at a presentation ceremony last Thursday.

Civic society chairman, Helen Kidman, said the society had been “particularly impressed by the standard and variety of projects coming to fruition” and was already looking forward to a healthy list of nominations for its 2012 awards.

Ilkley Parish Council chairman, Councillor Brian Mann, hailed the awards as a “much-appreciated part of local civic life” which have gained some prestige in the town.

The two winners of civic society Design Awards were new build five-bedroom detached home Apple Hayes, on Ben Rhydding Drive, and the Nell Bank Centre’s Aiming High complex on the outdoor activity centre’s Denton Road site.

Apple Hayes achieves the high Code Five standard for sustainable homes.

The home incorporates the latest in insulation and heating technology to minimise its carbon footprint and running costs.

It was designed by Sense of Space architects, of Ilkley, and built by another Ilkley company, Landmarks (UK).

The Nell Bank Centre’s new complex, designed to provide outdoor activities for children of all physical abilities, also incorporates many of the latest environmental considerations in its construction and heating.

It was designed by Skipton architects Bowman Riley and constructed by Bermar Building.

Green credentials were also recognised in Ilkley Grammar School’s Eco-Pod classrooms and in a garden area on The Grove.

Letting agent Angus Roberts and No 17 Boutique gained an Environmental Improvements Commendation for their work to improve the garden outside their retail premises, in the Spa Buildings, The Grove.

Ilkley Grammar’s re-use of three former shipping containers as additional teaching space on the tight Cowpasture Road site, incorporating the latest environmental building techniques, gained the school a Design Commendation.

Further design commendations went to the major remodelling of a 1930s modernist style house on Curly Hill, the creation of a feature entrance joining two separate buildings at Ilkley Cricket Club, Middleton Avenue, and Little Lane Children’s Centre, built on to the Warehouse youth centre.