WQD Capital lodges development application for 12 visitor accommodation units in Sandy Bay

Five years after the local council rejected a similar application by the same developer, a new proposal has been lodged for visitor accommodation near the Sandy Bay shopping precinct.

South elevation of proposed visitor accommodation development on Star St, Sandy Bay. Picture: Supplied

A proposal to build a five-storey block of visitor accommodation units in a residential area of Sandy Bay has been recommended for approval by Hobart City Council planning officers five years after a similar application for the same site was knocked back.

WQD Capital wants to construct 12 units on a vacant lot at 9 Star St off Fitzroy Place, including 12 parking spaces, as well as a pedestrian footpath and landscaping in an adjacent road reserve.

It comes after the same developer failed in its bid to obtain a planning permit for residential accommodation on the site in 2019 due to concerns regarding density and the provision of private open space.

Concept design of proposed visitor accommodation development on Star St Sandy Bay. Picture: M2A Architecture

The council’s rejection of the original application was appealed to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and an agreement was reached for the developer to reduce the number of proposed dwellings by half.

A new planning permit was issued in March 2020 and an extension was granted in November 2021 but this lapsed in March last year.

Now WQD Capital has changed tack and shifted its focus to visitor accommodation, with council officers recommending elected members give the new application the green light.

“The proposal has been assessed by other council officers, including the council’s development engineer and its environmental development planner. The officers have raised no objection to the proposal, subject to conditions,” the officers’ planning report said.

The application will be considered by the council’s Planning Authority Committee at a meeting on Wednesday.

The site in question is about 300 metres from the upper Sandy Bay shopping precinct and also has frontage onto Jersey St.

Aerial view of proposed visitor accommodation development – outlined in blue – on Star St, Sandy Bay. Picture: Supplied

Eight representations were made in opposition to the proposal, with objections including potential traffic, carparking, and property value impacts.

The units would be across three storeys and each would comprise about 75 sq/m of floor area.

There would be carparking for nine vehicles and storage for bicycles on a basement level plus a parking deck on the uppermost level of the building with space for three vehicles.

Planning consultancy Ireneinc was engaged by WQD Capital to prepare the development application.

“The proposal will provide additional visitor accommodation options in a well-serviced and accessible area to meet growing demand in Hobart,” the application reads.

“This proposal does not result in the loss of any existing residential housing and a visitor management plan has been prepared, outlining restrictions on the use of outdoor areas on the site and use of external speakers.”

Originally published as WQD Capital lodges development application for 12 visitor accommodation units in Sandy Bay