Choice Location Strategists justifies realignment of Hobart’s Growth Boundary to improve housing affordability

Effective 17 May 2023 the Tasmanian Planning Minister amended the Southern Tasmania Regional Land Use Stragegy (‘STRLUS’) to incorporate additional sites within the Urban Growth Boundary and add flexibility in considering the planning merit of proposals to rezone land for urban purposes which are outside, but immediately adjacent to, the UGB.

The Minister’s initiative was supported by a Residential Land Study of the Southern Tasmania Planning Region prepared by Choice Location Strategists for prominent residential land developer, JAC Group. Our report demonstrated that changes were required to the STRLUS and UGB to facilitate the release of more land for residential development, thereby alleviating an accute shortfall. This shortfall was constraining residential development activity and placing upward pressure on house and land prices, eroding housing affordability for Tasmanian households.

Luxury Launceston Hotel approved by the Tasmanian Planning Commission

On 4 March 2022 the Tasmanian Planning Commission approved JAC Group’s development of a luxury 145 suite hotel and conference facility near Launceston’s Catarac Gorge. The affirmative decision was supported by Choice Location Strategists’ assessment of numerous economic and wider tourism benefits accruing from the development.