Local governments are uniquely positioned to shape our urban environments, which in turn shape our culture, our wellbeing, and the way we experience everyday life.
There is a well-documented relationship between the quality of the built environment and health, economy or crime rate. Increasingly – and at long last – the aesthetic qualities of traditional architecture and urban planning are returning to the forefront of professional discourse, albeit to the displeasure of some architects and academics whose careers have been built around “intellectualised ugliness”.
Importantly, contemporary-traditional architecture does not mean discontinuation of progress, but rather return to gradual development of locally characteristic and climate appropriate architecture and urban design, and refusal of expedient globalised design fashions.
Australia has a long journey ahead if we are to recover and reconnect with the cultural roots and architectural traditions that developed over centuries and which continue to adorn many of the world’s most beautiful cities and towns.
We all recognise beauty when we see it, yet we have almost forgotten how to create it – and, just as importantly, how to preserve and care for it.
If, like me, you care about creating a beautiful, healthy and enduring built environment, and about the influence our surroundings have on us and on society more broadly, consider carefully which mayoral candidates are most likely to encourage future development in that direction.
Recommended Mayoral Candidates in 2026 Tasmanian LGA Elections
In the coming days, I will be publishing recommended candidates for each Tasmanian LGA here and on social media, also inviting others to share.
| LGA | Mayoral Candidate |
|---|---|
| Break O’Day | |
| Brighton | |
| Burnie City | |
| Central Coast | |
| Central Highlands | |
| Circular Head | |
| Clarence City | |
| Derwent Valley | |
| Devonport City | |
| Dorset | |
| Flinders | |
| George Town | |
| Glamorgan-Spring Bay | |
| Glenorchy City | |
| Hobart City | |
| Huon Valley | |
| Kentish | |
| King Island | |
| Kingborough | |
| Latrobe | |
| Launceston City | |
| Meander Valley | |
| Northern Midlands | |
| Sorell | |
| Southern Midlands | |
| Tasman | |
| Waratah-Wynyard | |
| West Coast | |
| West Tamar |
Precedents
Examples of precedents where contemporary-traditional architecture and urban design resulted in measurable positive outcomes:
| Example | What changed | Documented outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Poundbury, Dorset, UK | Deliberate rejection of conventional post-war estate planning in favour of traditional Dorset/English architecture, mixed uses, squares, narrow streets and pedestrian priority | Now about 5,000 residents, 260+ businesses and 2,700+ jobs. A Dorset Council economic assessment found it had permanently increased local GVA by about £98 million/year by 2018. Around 35% of housing is affordable and integrated throughout the development rather than segregated. (Poundbury.co.uk) |
| Nansledan, Cornwall, UK | Contemporary development based on Cornish vernacular architecture, traditional streets and squares, local materials and mixed-use neighbourhood centres | Already around 1,200 residents and 40+ businesses; includes shops, school, employment, public spaces and affordable housing. Cornwall Council has subsequently created a special Local Development Order to facilitate housing, employment and community infrastructure there. (Nansledan) |
| Brandevoort, Helmond, Netherlands | A major new district consciously based on traditional Brabant towns such as Breda, Hertogenbosch and Heusden rather than modernist estate planning | It became a widely recognised Dutch planning model; Helmond’s tourism authority notes that its architectural approach has subsequently been emulated by other cities. Its streets, canals, market hall and traditional urban centre have also become a visitor attraction in their own right. (Visit Helmond) |
| Val d’Europe / Le Plessis-Robinson, France | Return to traditional block-and-street urbanism, medium density, mixed use and largely traditional residential architecture | The Royal Town Planning Institute contrasts these developments with earlier post-war new-town forms and says they have avoided problems associated with oversized, difficult-to-maintain housing structures and public spaces. It also points to strong consumer, developer and political demand for these qualities. (Royal Town Planning Institute) |
| Kentlands, Maryland, USA | Traditional neighbourhood plan: interconnected streets, houses close to sidewalks, porches, mixed uses, parks and historically derived architecture | This one has unusually good academic evidence. A peer-reviewed analysis of 2,061 sales estimated buyers paid roughly a 12% premium to live there; a later multi-development study found a 14.9% Kentlands premium. Separate resident research found substantially stronger community attachment and identity than in a nearby conventional suburb. (HCRI) |
| Seaside, Florida, USA | One of the original modern revivals of the traditional town: tiny blocks, narrow streets, civic squares, mixed use and vernacular/classical architecture | What began as an experimental alternative to automobile-oriented resort development became an internationally influential model. Academic research documents long-term land-value appreciation, successful mixed-use development and an exceptionally walkable physical structure: virtually the entire town lies within about 800 m of its centre. (Taylor & Francis Online) |
| Ciudad Cayalá, Guatemala | New traditional city quarter designed around classical/Spanish-American architecture, pedestrian streets, plazas and mixed uses | It has developed into a major commercial and leisure destination within Guatemala City. Guatemala’s official tourism site now specifically promotes its pedestrian streets, squares, restaurants and architectural character as an attraction. (Traditional Architecture Journal) |