P Early (Letters, August 4) is right about the need for environmentally sustainable buildings, including the King Alfred redevelopment.

The council's brief calls for high standards of efficiency in the use of water, energy and materials. The developer is also committed to a sustainable approach both to the construction and the management of the development.

Members of the Karis/ING team such as Faber Maunsell engineers have a strong track record in this respect.

P Topping, on the same letters page, is correct to raise transport issues at the King Alfred. I can reassure him the planning application will need to include a full assessment of the impact on all forms of transport.

The council's planning brief emphasises the need to achieve the highest possible level of accessibility by public transport. We are committed to working with Karis/ING to ensure improvements in public transport access are in place by the time the development opens.

These will include improving sustainable transport along the seafront.

We agree with Mrs Twiselton (Letters, August 6) that tall buildings are not suitable for families with children.

We have already said the King Alfred properties would be principally for single people and couples, with just a small number of units for families.

This would free up homes elsewhere in the city which would be more appropriate to families.

-Coun Sue John, deputy leader, Brighton and Hove City Council