Learning from Neighbourhoods
A webinar to hear from the 2026 Great Neighbourhood finalists and launch the voting for this category
Date: Friday 9 October 2026
Time: 13:00 - 14:15 BST
Location: Online via Zoom
Join us virtually this autumn as we hear from from the Urbanism Awards' 2026 finalists about the stories that have shaped great places across the UK and Europe.
This session will focus on the Great Neighbourhood finalists who will introduce each place and share the case studies that have helped make the neighbourhood a successful urban place – touching on the assessment criteria of Leadership + Governance; Local Character; Amenity + Housing; Commercial Success + Viability; Environmental Sustainability; Community, Health + Wellbeing; Connectivity; and Joy (2026 theme).
Neighbourhood finalists
Cloughjordan Ecovillage is a pioneering Irish co-housing community offering a bold, bottom-up model of sustainable, collaboratively designed living that demonstrates an inspiring and replicable alternative to conventional residential development.
NOMA is a newly regenerated Manchester neighbourhood successfully weaving residential, heritage and diverse activities together, with an innovative focus on measuring social value in an institutionally backed, mixed-use development.
Speakers
Ali Grehan
Representing Cloughjordan Ecovillage
Ali Grehan is the former Dublin City Architect. In that role, she was a member of Dublin City Council's Senior Management team and led the City Architect's division. With her team and Senior Management colleagues, she was responsible for developing a broad urban design agenda including the delivery of diverse projects in relation to housing, public realm, community and cultural infrastructure. Her career has spanned private practice in Dublin, London and Bilbao, and in the Public Sector; where her particular focus has been on large-scale urban regeneration. Prior to becoming City Architect, Ali was Chief Architect with Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. She also worked with CIE’s Railway Procurement Agency (now Transport Infrastructure Ireland) delivering Dublin’s first LUAS Light Rail system.
Currently, she is Chair of the Irish Green Building Council and is engaging with Sustainable Projects Ireland on implementing the next stage of Cloughjordan Ecovillage’s development.
Veronica Ryan
Representing Cloughjordan Ecovillage
Veronica Ryan is an Engagement and Cultural Programme Manager with over 20 years of experience leading educational, arts, and community initiatives. Known for her work in multi-stakeholder event delivery, audience development, and governance, she specialises in creating accessible programming and fostering lifelong cultural participation. Veronica was a founding member of Sustainable Projects Ireland in 1999 and has lived in Cloughjordan since 2009.
From 2009 to 2025, Ryan drove educational and community initiatives in Co. Tipperary. She served as Education Coordinator at WeCreate Workspace, before becoming Education Manager at Sustainable Projects Ireland CLG (Cloughjordan Ecovillage) in 2018. In 2026, she transitioned to Charity Administrator & Company Secretary for the organisation.
Ben Young
Representing NOMA
Ben Young runs Altogether Otherwise, the participatory design studio that anchors community life at NOMA from its base on Hanover Street. The studio opens its doors daily, inviting people in to make, meet, and take up space in the neighbourhood as it's being built around them. Ben has spent over a decade making things with people on the streets of NOMA, from The Pilcrow pub to the ongoing NOMA programme. He'll be speaking about what happens when a neighbourhood treats its residents as collaborators rather than an audience.
Voting
This webinar acts as a precursor to Urbanism Awards voting, which will open in this category directly following the event. Links to Neighbourhood assessment reports and the voting form will be circulated to webinar attendees and the AoU Membership in the afternoon of Friday 9 October, once this event has taken place.
Access to assessment reports and voting is restricted to AoU Members only.
Voting for other categories will open directly following the respective 'Learning from' webinars on the following dates:
- Friday 2 October: Great Streets + Spaces
- Friday 16 October: Great Towns / Small Cities
- Friday 23 October: European City of the Year
Winners will be announced at the Urbanism Awards Party on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
4-for-3! Non-Members can attend all four 'Learning from' sessions for the price of three by getting in touch at [email protected], or join the AoU as a member for free access to all online sessions and Urbanism Awards voting.
