High-rise city apartments vs new towns in the countryside: IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answer

As more people move to cities in search of work, governments face the challenge of housing them. Some argue that cities should grow upwards through tall apartment buildings, whereas others prefer creating new towns in rural areas. Although both approaches have merits, I believe that well-planned high-rise development within cities is usually the better choice.

The case for new towns rests mainly on quality of life. Building on open land allows planners to design neighbourhoods from scratch, with wide roads, parks and modern schools, avoiding the overcrowding found in many city centres. Residents can enjoy cleaner air and more green space, and housing is often cheaper because land outside cities costs less. Britain's post-war new towns, such as Milton Keynes, were built partly for these reasons.

However, new towns have significant drawbacks. Unless they attract their own employers, residents must commute long distances to work in the city, which increases traffic and pollution. Building them also requires expensive new infrastructure, such as roads, railways and water supplies, and it consumes valuable farmland, contributing to urban sprawl. This is a particular concern in densely populated countries where agricultural land is limited.

Supporters of high-rise housing argue that increasing density makes better use of existing resources. People living in central apartments are close to jobs, public transport and amenities such as hospitals and universities, so they can walk or take a short bus ride rather than drive. Singapore, for instance, has shown that tall buildings can provide decent, affordable homes if they are combined with parks and good services.

In conclusion, while new towns can offer spacious and pleasant living conditions, I would argue that building upwards in existing cities is more sustainable, as it protects the countryside and reduces travel. The key is to ensure that high-rise developments include enough green space and public facilities.