IS NEWPORT City Council really expecting to need more than 10,000 new homes over the next 11 years? (Argus, 26th Jan). If a new government, after this May’s general election, reduces immigration to more manageable levels and deports more undesirables, many of these extra houses may not be required. But what about other alternatives?

A stroll along High Street and Commercial Street in Newport reveals lots of premises with two or three empty floors above them, ideal for flats and apartments. Repeat that scenario in other streets in other towns and cities, and digging up green fields to build more housing estates appears to be even more unnecessary. Before adding more bricks and concrete to our ever expanding city, I suggest the council take a long, hard look at other options.

A Greenhalgh, Ross Street, Newport