The Changing High Street

Demolition underway at the old RS McColl’s, revealing a ghost sign underneath for the previous restaurant/cafe. They are going to build a new block on the corner, with retail units on the ground floor and flats above. They are only building 11 flats across the four floors. Could that have anything to do with city planning regulations which require new builds of 12 or more units to include 35% affordable housing within the development? Am I too cynical? It does seem too much of a coincidence. There could have been four new affordable homes in Portobello. Should the planning threshold be set at four or five instead?