Those projects nominated for the Harrow Architectural and Environmental Awards include new private houses, apartment blocks, public buildings and even an entire school, as well as additions to churches and homes and several non-building improvements.

Run in conjunction with Harrow Heritage Trust and Harrow Council, the biennial scheme aims to reward the best-looking constructions that make a contribution to their neighbour-hood.

Two years ago the joint winners were Sweetmans Hall, a restored 16th century house in West End Lane, Pinner, and Ad Astra, a luxurious family home in Priory Drive, Stanmore.

One of the more unusual entries this time around is a new channel that branches off the River Pinn, off Uxbridge Road, in Hatch End, and was created to alleviate flooding in the surrounding area.

Andy Pepper, the project manager at the Environment Agency who designed the scheme, said: "We diverted the river into a 600 metre channel and it's been a great benefit to wildlife habitats."

Hatch End Association committee member Anne Swinson, who nominated the project for the award, said: "So far some fish have been seen here, a heron has been spotted and we're also watching out for birds and butterflies.

"The banks have been planted with lots of trees, such as alders, willows and maples."

The River Pinn, which is in the Green Belt, runs through Hatch End, Pinner and Eastcote. Construction work started in August 2007 and took three months.

Mrs Swinson said: "There's been a lot of entries and we'd even be quite happy to be a runner up."

This nomination will be competing against that of Brian Holgate, 62, of Grimsdyke Road, Hatch End, who created a unique rockery and water feature out of a Second World War air raid shelter in his back garden.

The hut, from 1939, is 15m long and 5m wide and is partially buried in the ground so only the top third is visible.

Mr Holgate said: "I couldn't get rid of it, so I wanted to do something about it. I wanted to turn it into an attractive feature. And that's what it is now. It's superb."

He crafted the design after sitting in the garden one day and dreaming up the idea.

Reconstruction started in October and it took three weeks. He is currently adding more plants and receiving knocks on his front door from people wishing to see it. The retired John Lyon School physics teacher, who is now a part-time sports trainer, said: "It's transforming something historic into something useful."

Several public projects appear on the nomination list, including two of the three Neighbourhood Resource Centres, and the restored brick bridge that spans the moat surrounding Headstone Manor, the 14th century timber-framed Grade I listed house in Pinner View, Harrow, once owned by Henry VIII.

Workers for Harrow Council contractor EnterpriseMouchel discovered brick foundations, that were at least 400 years old, while repairing and strengthening the structure to enable emergency vehicles to drive over it.

Traditional materials such as lime sand mortar were used along with bricks reclaimed from the bed of the moat and the fencing was replaced so visitors will see the crossing as it would have looked in the 1800s.

Heralding the re-opening of the bridge at the time, Councillor Jean Lammiman (Conservative), the council's portfolio holder for community and cultural services, said: "It is important to relish the borough's heritage, and this is a hidden gem that many residents and visitors of Harrow may not know exists."

And while it made the shortlist for the national Historic Bridges and Infrastructure Awards, the council will be hoping it goes one step further this time.

The awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 20, after judging day on Thursday, April 29.

THE JUDGING PANEL

* Martin Verden - chairman of Harrow Heritage Trust

* Shujaul Azam - Harrow Observer's multimedia content manager

* Councillor Marilyn Ashton - Harrow Council's portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise

**Frank Stocks - Harrow Council's design and conservation manager

**Alan Morgan - retired architect

**Baj Mathur - retired architect and planner and awards convenor for the trust