Launceston developer Mort Douglas said yesterday that he was confident that new plans for his inner city development had satisfied all objections.
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In plans revealed publicly yesterday, Mr Douglas and architect Doug Gray have decided to incorporate parts of an existing 1938 art deco service station into the retail complex they have planned for the corner of Brisbane and Wellington streets.
The new design was first shown to the Launceston City Council at a mediation conference last Monday.
``There was a sense of relief,'' Mr Douglas said of the aldermen's reactions. ``Doug Gray and I also feel very comfortable about the design after all the dramas we have had.''
Weeks of furious debate followed publication of the original concept, which required the demolition of the service station.
The Tasmanian Heritage Council, the National Trust and many architects criticised the plans for a car park on an inner city corner.
Mr Douglas's many hundreds of supporters wanted him to be given the go-ahead for the development because the buildings, at the city's busiest entrance, had been vacant for more than a year.
Mr Douglas praised architect Mr Gray, saying that the solution had nothing to do with the Tasmanian Heritage Council or the National Trust.
``I didn't think it could be done,'' Mr Douglas said looking at the drawings showing a three-sided glass shop at the former service station corner.
``This has a lovely flow about it.
``I'd love to see a food hall in that corner shop.''
People in cars stopped at the intersection would now be able to see the shop advertising for the whole complex, he said.
National Trust president Lionel Morrell said that he was delighted that an independent consultant had advised that a building should be on the corner.
The trust's special committee would look at the detail of the design in the next few days, he said.
Launceston Mayor John Lees applauded Mort Douglas's courage to relook at the design.
``In my opinion the solution should satisfy the concerns of critics because it addresses the problem of a hole on the corner.
``The new plan is a significant change to the first and will be handled as a new development application,'' he said.
Mr Douglas has still not revealed the exact cost of the project.
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