As a local resident, I would rather North Laine planning spokesperson Barry Leigh not speak on my behalf about the regeneration of Orange Row, off North Road, Brighton (The Argus, February 14).

I live in a flat in an area of the city which unfortunately suffers from some of the worse aspects of urban living, such as rubbish on the streets and the threat of crime.

To me, one of the main attractions of Orange Row apart from the appeal of having two floors - is that, with improvements being made to the street, including repaving and street lighting, some of these negative aspects might be alleviated.

The regeneration is completely in keeping with the whole uplift which North Road is experiencing and I would be interested to know if Mr Leigh is also against Bill's Produce Store and the Jubilee Library nearby.

Both these recent additions have enhanced the road, parts of which were once some of the more neglected areas of the wonderfully eclectic North Laine.

As for the live/work element, these cottages would be perfect for my partner, who, as a freelance designer, would be able to work from home during the day.

With our joint incomes, I can see these homes would be an affordable option, especially when compared to the prices some one-bedroom flats go for in certain architecturally-beautiful areas of Brighton and Hove.

Perhaps they wouldn't be so expensive if more people such as Mr Leigh had been around at the time they were being developed.

-Zoe Masterson, Brighton