MAJOR plans to regenerate the east side of Newport with a large-scale housing development have been greeted with caution by Corus and community figures.

The plans, revealed in yesterday's Argus, have been drawn up by urban regeneration experts who hope to breathe new life into the east side of the city following the decline of Llanwern steelworks.

Planners are earmarking the villages of Llanwern and Underwood for expansion, with up to 1,700 new homes being proposed as part of a blueprint put forward by regeneration company Newport Unlimited.

The decommissioned sections of the steelworks could also be used for new homes and could form a possible link between the Southern Distributor Road and the M4 in Magor.

But a Corus spokesman sounded a note of caution over the plans. He said: "We are keen to clear the site as quickly as possible and over a third of it has been cleared already.

"We are in talks with partners, including Newport Unlimited and the Welsh Development Agency, but there have been talks with other parties - public and private."

The area of land set out for development forms a green belt between the Langstone and Llanwern wards, where David and Carole Atwell are the respective Conservative councillors.

Councillor David Atwell said: "Both Carole and I are concerned over the density of the housing proposed.

"We accept the need for development but would like to see them build hamlets or little villages.

"We are concerned that the plans at the moment seem to be housing-led rather than employment-led."

Phil Cox, the chairman of Llanwern community council, said they had concerns over the building of housing on flood plains.

Mr Cox added: "We question the need for that much housing and the concentration in one area."

Neighbouring local auth-orities in Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly have all expressed concerns over the impact the development would have on their plans for new housing and investment.

Llanwern golf club, which may be affected by the proposals, said it did not want to comment while the plans are at an early stage.