Following on from the hugely successful 1997 and 2000 Southwell Civic Awards, in 2005 the Civic Society organised the Southwell Civic Awards in partnership with the Southwell Town Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

There were numerous nominations for recognition ranging from new road signs and refurbishments to new buildings. Many projects were put forward by several people. Judging was undertaken by Susannah Beatson-Hird (Southwell Town Council), Keith Sheppard (Newark and Sherwood District Council), Terry Harrison (Southwell Civic Society) and Stuart Blackwood (independent). The awards were considered not only for visual appeal but also for workmanship and the benefit to the community as a whole.

The three awards winners were:-

• The paving of King Street and Queen Street.
• Harmans Walk Shopping Arcade linking Queen Street to Bull Yard.
• Rebuilding and refurbishment of South Muskham Prebend.

The Highly Commended projects were:-

• The refurbishment of the old cinema, Westgate.
• The conversion of the old Shoe Bill shop into a meeting room and training facilities for the Southwell Care Project.
• The development of Bonser’s old engineering workshops behind the old cinema for housing.

The Award ceremony took take place in the Minster Great Hall, with over one hundred guests being welcomed by the Civic Society chairman, Mike Struggles. The president of the Southwell Civic Society, The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, presented the awards.