Tamworth development: old Leader building top floor proposal to convert office space to function centre

A development application has been lodged for the Marius and Brisbane streets site to change the fifth floor from an office space to a function centre.

The original building was constructed in the mid-1920's with a fourth-storey added a decade later.

A fifth storey was built in 2019 after the Leader newspaper moved offices and the building was sold.

Plans from Urban and Abode submitted to the council said that despite a lot of interest, the fifth floor has remained vacant for some time.

"A local business has expressed interest in establishing a function centre to take advantage of the central location, and outlook over the Tamworth CBD and East Tamworth precinct," it said.

"The proposal is primarily aimed at social gatherings including weddings, birthdays, etc.

"Due to the location and height of the building, the location is ideally placed to showcase the Tamworth CBD and established landscape of the East Tamworth precinct."

The proposed plans include an extension of the kitchen area for a commercial kitchen to be used for warming and serving, with most food preparation to take place off-site.

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A cool room would be installed with the addition of a 'dry bar' - where all drinks would be premixed or bottled.

Any event would have a maximum number of 152 guests with the expected operating hours to be from 10am to midnight, seven days a week.

The DA has been referred internally by the council for comment and submissions are open.

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