New plans submitted for $230M controversial Fragrance Group high-rise in Hobart

Details are scant at this early stage, but developers the Fragrance Group appear to have lodged plans for visitor accommodation at the site of one of its former controversial proposals in Hobart.

• Fragrance Group announces change of high-rise plans for Davey St and Collins St
• Fragrance Group submits revised designs for Hobart apartment project after concerns about building height

NEW plans have been submitted to council for the site of the Fragrance Group’s most controversial proposed developments in central Hobart.

In May 2017, the Singapore company lodged development applications with the Hobart City Council for a 120m, 400-room hotel at 28 Davey St and a 75m, 495-room hotel at 2 Collins St — worth a combined $230 million.

The proposals were the tallest buildings ever earmarked for Tasmania’s capital and provoked significant public opposition.

Render of Fragrance Group’s 120m hotel proposal for Davey St from 2017.

In March 2018, the Fragrance Group announced it had downsized the height of its Collins St hotel to 50m in response to feedback from the city’s residents.

The developer also put its much-higher Davey St hotel on hold and indicated it could re-examine the height of that proposal if the revised Collins St project, and their Elizabeth St project, were well received by authorities and the public.

The 2017 proposal by the Fragrance Group for a hotel on Davey St.

The Collins St development was later refused by council and the Elizabeth St project is in mediation at the state’s planning tribunal.

Now, a new application has been submitted for the 28 Davey St site.

It is listed on council’s website as being for “demolition, new building for visitor accommodation, function centre, and shop.”

On the Fragrance Group’s website listed under the Davey St address is a short statement reading “located near to the Hobart waterfront and a short walk from the famed Salamanca Market, plans are being drawn up to develop this site into an up-market hotel.”

The developers were contacted for comment and further detail on the specifics of the proposal.

Meanwhile, the company’s revised development application for residential apartments at the old Conservatorium of Music has been recommended for approval by council staff.

Earlier this year, Fragrance submitted a development application for 55 apartments on Sandy Bay Rd, across from St David’s Park.

The tallest section of the building was 10 storeys with a maximum height of 33m, with 352 representations from the public opposing the plan.

It was recommended for refusal at a council meeting in May, but the item was deferred for further consultation.

The old Conservatorium of Music at 5-7 Sandy Bay Road development application artists impressions showing the reduction in height by approximately 6.2m, from 33.2m to approximately 27m. The red dotted line shows the previously proposed height. Design: IRENEINC PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN

Fragrance then submitted revised plans, which would reduce the maximum height of the new building by 6.2m to 27m and would reduce the number of apartments to 45.

The second iteration has been recommended for approval by council’s planning staff.

“The design of the development is well considered and has a number of positive attributes, with high density residential accommodation presenting an appropriate fit in terms of use for this location,” the council report said.

“Also considered a positive is the heritage-listed George Davis ABC mural to be adequately protected and incorporated into the development.

“The proposal’s height is now considered to be compatible with the scale of nearby buildings.”

The matter will go to a vote at Monday night’s planning committee meeting ahead of a full council vote the following Monday.