Gracchus saw that the question of rapid and easy communication between the existing towns was all important.

If new housing were built on greenfield sites away from existing towns and villages, then opposition could be muted.

Earlier this year the Heritage Council said much of the new development around existing towns was unsympathetic to the existing built heritage.

She welcomes the review's acknowledgement that the principles of garden cities, which focus on sustainability, are also relevant in regenerating existing towns.