Learning from Towns / Small Cities
A webinar to hear from the 2026 Great Town / Small City finalists and launch the voting for this category
Date: Friday 16 October 2026
Time: 13:00 - 14:30 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 Town / Small City finalists who will introduce each place and share the case studies that have helped make the town / city 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).
Town / Small City finalists
Ashbourne is a remarkable post-Covid revival driven by exemplary multi-stakeholder partnership, substantial Levelling Up funding, and bold traffic and town centre improvements that showcase effective small-town governance.
Gainsborough is a compelling regeneration success story, reversing decades of decline through determined leadership, coherent strategy, vibrant waterfront renewal, and forward-thinking economic planning including proximity to the pioneering STEP Fusion facility.
Perth is a resilient Scottish city successfully blending sustainability ambitions, circular economy principles, and a thriving Love Local brand to attract tourism and entrepreneurship despite significant economic headwinds.
Speakers
Tim Challans
Representing Ashbourne
Tim worked as a planner with the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Tower Hamlets; in arts policy and funding in the East Midlands and the Arts Council and was the head of the Leisure and Culture service at Nottinghamshire County Council and the Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning service at Walsall MBC.
He had a cultural policy consultancy and has been on the boards of several Nottingham and national cultural bodies. In addition to planning qualifications, he has BA and MA degrees in art history.
He is a member of the Ashbourne Town Team, an independent strategic partnership developing and delivering projects ensuring the town’s long-term economic, social and environmental wellbeing.
He is an active member of the Academy of Urbanism having historically led both Neighbourhoods and Towns and Small Cities assessments.
Alan Farnington
Representing Perth
Alan Farnington is Team Leader for Placemaking and Localities at Perth & Kinross Council, where he leads work to support regeneration, investment and place development across Perth and Kinross.
Over the past decade, Alan has been involved in the development and delivery of a wide range of projects in Perth, contributing to initiatives focused on city centre regeneration, public realm enhancement, cultural investment and economic development. These include St Paul's Square, Perth Creative Exchange, Perth Museum and the Perth City Centre Lighting Strategy. Working as part of multidisciplinary teams and partnerships, he has helped shape projects that have strengthened Perth's role as one of Scotland's most distinctive and ambitious small cities.
Now leading the Council's Placemaking and Localities team, Alan is focused on building on these successes across the region, bringing forward projects and investment that support thriving, sustainable and attractive places.
Sally Grindrod-Smith
Representing Gainsborough
Sally Grindrod-Smith is Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council and Interim Trent Supercluster Programme Director for the East Midlands Combined County Authority. With more than 21 years' experience in local government, she has led major programmes spanning planning, regeneration, housing, economic growth and place-making across Lincolnshire and the Humber region. Sally has been instrumental in securing and delivering significant public and private sector investment, driving transformational regeneration initiatives, new housing growth, town centre renewal and strategic development opportunities. She is passionate about creating sustainable places where communities can thrive and is currently helping to shape the future of the Trent Clean Energy Supercluster, one of the UK's most significant clean energy and economic growth opportunities
Voting
This webinar acts as a precursor to Urbanism Awards voting, which will open in this category directly following the event. Links to Town / Small City assessment reports and the voting form will be circulated to webinar attendees and the AoU Membership in the afternoon of Friday 16 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 9 October: Great Neighbourhoods
- 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.
