New proposed Molesworth St development to bring a ‘diversity’ in Lismore housing

Since floods swept through in 2017, this CBD shop has been vacant. However, a plan to increase housing options and bring new business to town could help to revive the spot.

The former signage of the Molesworth St spot. Credit: Google Maps

The former site of Scotts News Lismore could be getting a major revamp, according to a fresh development application.

The 142a Molesworth St spot was occupied by the newsagency and insurance brokers and a dental surgery on the first floor until the Cyclone Debbie flood in March 2017.

Since then, the building has been vacant.

However, a recent application before Lismore City Council proposes to transform the CBD spot into a combination of an accountant agency and shop top housing.

According to the planning documents, the proposal is to create three client meeting rooms, a reception and waiting area, practice manager’s office, four accountants’ offices and more.

As for the shop top housing, the application suggests there is space for two units ‒ one two bedroom unit with an ensuite, study and walk-in wardrobe, and another three-bedroom unit with one ensuite.

The application noted there were “substantial” positive benefits to be had from the development, including a “new and a wider choice of residential (shop top house) accommodation”, a revitalisation of “existing ground floor commercial space for business purposes”, the “generation of employment opportunities in the construction and commercial / business industry sectors” and “better utilisation of serviced urban land zoned for business purposes”.

“The proposal albeit in a small way increases the diversity of housing stock in Lismore,” the application added.

The accountant agency would hire eight staff and plans to be open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8.30am until 5pm.

An electric car charging station was also proposed for the parking area along with the existing carpark.

The development application is currently on exhibition and can be viewed here.