Following community feedback after the development application was first advertised, a number of changes have been made.

“It was evident from the submissions and a meeting with representors that there was strong support for a hotel at the subject site but that a reduction in height and increased setbacks to Tamar Street should be considered,” the proposal said.

The new design is 3.7 metres lower in height than the original hotel proposed, which was seven-storeys tall.

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To keep the consistency of heights with the other buildings on Tamar Street, a two storey high “podium section” of the hotel will be built, with the six-storey tower to be setback much further.

The number of rooms has been reduced, with 86 in total, down from 78 hotel rooms and 10 premium suites.

“The hotel development presented in this development application is as a result of a lengthy process,” the proposal said.

“Initially, the proponent sought to purchase a site area of 1160 [square metres of] land to support an eight-storey hotel … once detailed design commenced, the proponent became increasingly conscious that a lowering of the proposed height to seven-storeys would provide a more sympathetic structure.”

The further changes were planned to ensure that the development did not lose too many hotel rooms, as the right amount was critical to the financial feasibility of the project.

The developers believe the new design that has been submitted addressed many of the relevant planning concerns the representors shared in relation to the original proposal.

If approved, the facility will also include conference and meeting room facilities, a bar and guest lounge areas, a cafe and restaurant with outdoor seating, and a future tenancy fronting Cimitiere Street.

The updated development application is being advertised for public comment by the City of Launceston until January 29.