A development application was lodged, and approved, in April for the $5 million apartments. 

Now, a second development application has been lodged for a change of use to visitor accommodation.

Give seven of the units’ location above floor level, the change for these units required a development application. 

“It is proposed to change the use of apartments 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17,” the development application said. 

“The balance of the apartments on this level of the building will also be used for visitor accommodation, but given their location above ground floor level, the change of use for these units is a permitted application.” 

Because the accommodation units will be booked and accessed electronically, no reception area is required. 

“The accommodation will act as a social enterprise and upon booking, guests can nominate a charity to donate part of the accommodation fee to,” the application said. 

“The addition of new apartment-style visitor accommodation within close proximity to the CBD will increase the intensity of development and activation within the city.”

The fully-developed site is three-storeys-high at the front, reducing to a single-storey at the rear because of the land’s topography. 

The lower and middle levels will remain as commercial office tenancies. 

When the plans for inner-city residential units were announced, developer Tony Bush said the apartments could lead the way for inner city living in Launceston. 

“Inner city living is a new concept for Launceston. There are not many residential apartments in the city,” Mr Bush said. 

The proposal was also welcomed by the Launceston Chamber of Commerce. 

Chief executive Neil Gross said the development was what Launceston needed. 

“That is precisely the sort of development the chamber have been talking about,” he said.