A woman in a senior town planning job has lavished praise on the regeneration work being carried out in Newport.
Ann Skippers, president of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), visited a number of locations in the town, including its new university campus and redeveloped riverfront area, reports the South Wales Argus.
"The quality of thought that has gone into the long-term planning of the area is outstanding," she said.
"Newport is a real hidden gem and I can't wait to return."
The £35 million university campus is set to open in early 2011, while other projects which have been carried out in Newport in recent times include several major housing developments.
Last month, Ms Skippers warned the government that scrapping regional spatial strategies could make things difficult for professionals in town planning jobs.
She said that a policy vacuum may be created, meaning that it will be more difficult for major investment projects to be approved.
