The City of Launceston council approved the report recommendations, meaning minimum heights will now be 14 metres before the plan has to be released for public consultation, and a maximum of 24 metres.

The original motion had the minimum limit at nine metres. This was increased to 14 metres after Councillor Nick Daking made an amendment.

The chamber's chief executive Neil Grose spoke against the original motion, listing the chamber's main concern as the regulation being nine metres.

The chamber is now happy, but admits there is a lot of work to do.

"Three key things came out of it, and one if them is that the height is now up to 14 metres, we really wanted the maximum height to be 30, but importantly height of buildings in Launceston will be determined by performance criteria," he said.

"We were desperately unhappy with the first iteration of his report back in December, but overall happy with where we go to."

Cr Daking said the increase would provide the city with an opportunity to attract investment because it provides certainty, with the extra five metres being able to underpin the growth of the CBD. He said the report's recommendations would allow that to occur, while protecting the city's heritage.

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Councillors around the table agreed the report would give clear direction for future developers.

The plan to regulate the city's building heights was approved unanimously by the council.

The report will be used to develop of a new set of planning controls that will guide significant new buildings across the city's central business district.

The council will also introduce a performance criteria that deals with height and development controls up to 24 metres in height, and performance criteria that deals with height and development controls over 24 metres in height, and develop design guidelines to assist and interpret the new planning provisions.

Mr Grose said the plan means new buildings will have good design and performance criteria as the basis for assessing them, not arbitrary height limits.

"Imposing maximum heights on buildings has never delivered good planning or commercial outcomes," he said.

"Unlike Hobart, which has a mandated maximum height, Launceston will have no such restriction, provided any proposed building is of good design and adheres to a range of performance guidelines."

Councillors agreed that building heights were just one part of the puzzle, and that the process so far had been long, and full of tough conversations.

Councillor Janie Finlay said a number of future proposals had been spoken about, but was happy this regulation would in place before they come to the council.

Mr Grose said the policy was a critical step to develop Launceston, and that the council had shown it is prepared to foster mature and intelligent debates around building design and suitability, rather than a simple height restriction.

"This is an important step in making Launceston a competitive city that can attract new capital, investments while maintaining its unique heritage environment," he said.

Councillor Rob Soward was not at the meeting.

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