A report to councillors by environmental, planning and building services director Neil Southorn recommends they approve plans to demolish the existing home and one healthy mature tree at 206 William Street to allow the construction of a new dwelling with separate garage.

Bricks from the existing building will be reused in the front and side walls of the new home while council staff also recommend timber window frames be installed in the new home and that mortar in the brickwork be "of a depth and colour appropriate for the age of the current building" to retain some of the area's character.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

The workers' cottage stands within the Bathurst Heritage Conservation Area but has not been listed as an individual heritage item under the Bathurst local environment plan.

The cottage dates back to the 1880s and was was one of six houses on William Street owned at the time by Oxford Hotel licensee Martin Caples.

A heritage impact statement submitted with the development application calls the cottage "historically significant as being an example of a late Victorian workers' residence", however, it also notes that "the physical fabric of the site and its use as a residence has been severely compromised through structural damage, deterioration of condition and substantial fabric loss and damage".

A separate engineering report estimates it would cost $400,000 to restore the cottage.

A submission from the Bathurst branch of the National Trust says the organisation is generally opposed to the demolition of buildings but in this instance supports the owners' plans for a "replacement building that reflects the existing building".

Councillors will consider the report at Wednesday night's monthly meeting.