Already, the war between high-rises and heritage has hit Hobart’s skyline.

It looks as though the Northern capital will be having a similar conversation.

There are plans for a 70-metre high hotel at the site of Launceston’s current Clarion Hotel, put forward by the Fragrance Group, which is also the firm behind the controversial developments in Hobart.

Launceston’s planning scheme imposes a 14.5-metre height restriction for buildings in the central business district.

Legislation changes or amendments would have to be made to allow the Clarion development to progress.

Indeed, there are many sides to this argument. On one hand, we are a unique city with unique architectural heritage, and we do not want to lose that.

Visitors don’t come to see our skyscrapers, they come to see our skies.

But if we can’t build up, we have to build out

Already, the CBD retailers are struggling to compete with the convenience of satellite shopping centres like Kings Meadows and Mowbray.

If we divert future developments, especially accommodation, to our city limits, the commerce follows them.

It’s acknowledged that the more a city spreads out, the less community connection exists.

We can’t be hasty in approving these high-rise developments, but similarly, we can’t be hasty to shut them down.

We could be cutting off our nose to not only spite our face, but further, stunt our growth.

While we’re busy debating the pros and cons, the accommodation sector is still stagnant and tourists are still left wanting.

Is it any wonder then, that so many Airbnbs are popping up in Launceston?