North Laine has been one of the success stories in Brighton ever since it was made a conservation area 26 years ago.

This gave people the confidence to buy houses and improve them, knowing they would not be pulled down, and for traders to invest in the shops.

Now North Laine, with its funky mixture of shops and cafes, rivals the longer-established Lanes as a tourist attraction and place for locals to enjoy.

But it is in danger of becoming a victim of its own success as property prices soar and small businesses are in danger of being priced out.

Market forces will operate for the most part, with successful enterprises moving to the larger, new units and new ones still able to start up in some of the less fashionable streets.

But there is help the city council can give, such as insisting substantial proportions of new housing should be affordable.

It should also ensure in granting planning permission that the delicate balance of the area is not knocked out of place by too many conversions of business premises into more profitable housing.

New developments on either side of North Laine, such as Jubilee Street and the station site will provide commercial and residential anchors, bringing more people into the area.

They should help ensure a district in danger of being demolished in the early Seventies continues to be one of the city's star attractions.