Scaled back design for Newcastle's Christ Church Cathedral function centre

It comes five years after a similar proposal was floated, but ultimately withdrawn due to planning approval delays.

Unlike the 2015 plans, which proposed a more prominent glass wing on the site's southern Church Street frontage, the new Cathedral Centre is primarily an underground structure that blends into a glass pavilion at street level.

The $15.5 million masterplan also includes the construction of a 30 metre* spire, which was a feature of the cathedral's original 1892 design.

"It would basically double the cathedral's height and make it the most dramatic cathedral in Australia," Barney Collins from EJE Architects said.

"It would be an incredible sight for cruise ships and people on the foreshore."

A statement of heritage impact says the new masterplan aims to "investigate possibilities of enhancement and development on the cathedral site for the next 20 years."

"The masterplan proposes options which will monetarily assist the cathedral in terms of ongoing operation and maintenance, the realisation of which is increasingly problematic as the cathedral ages and other costs arise."

"It is envisaged that the masterplan will strengthen and increase connections between the cathedral and the wider community, emulating in this way the centuries-old manner in which British and Continental cathedrals are integrated within their cities, rather than remaining separate from them."

In addition to the relocation of the cathedral's offices and meeting rooms, currently located in the nearby deanery, the new structure would provide significantly improved hospitality and function areas.

"The cathedral cannot currently display and store its historical collection of artworks and artefacts in their entirety, resulting in many being lost from public view," the impact statement says.

"The opportunity for the building organically to develop as a place of pilgrimage and worship, and culturally as a key tourist attraction, cannot be understated.

"The positive repercussions for the entire city through the completion of the proposed improvements are obvious."

Cathedral Dean Katherine Bowyer said she was excited about the materplan's potential to enhance the cathedral's connection with the community.

"The cathedral has been important part of the city's history and culture but it also needs to be a living part of the community. To do that it needs to change to meet the changing needs of the community," she said.

"This [masterplan] is part of a long and extensive process of engagement. We want to get it right."

"I would really encourage everyone to have a look at the plans and make a submission."

Mr Collins who along with Patrick Bless also worked on the 2015 concept, said the latest version, while more discrete, offered similar functionality to the original plan.

He added it was appropriate to finally add the cathedral spire given the increase in east end building heights.

"It was part of (cathedral architect) John Horbury Hunt's vision for building. With building heights going up in the east end I think it's time for the spire to finally go onto the cathedral," he said.

But not everyone is impressed by the new concept design.

Newcastle Inner City Residents Alliance spokesman Brian Ladd said the revised design had many similarities to its predecessor, which the group opposed.

"It remains a very large development," he said.

"While much of the structure appears to be underground, intrusive architectural elements remain above ground. These structures are jarring and lack sympathy or harmony with the imposing cathedral."

The group is also opposed to the addition of a spire.

"An early historic cathedral drawing does include a spire atop a bell tower. However, the majority of early cathedral drawings do not.

"The existing cathedral design was chosen by the cathedral's trustees more than a century ago," Mr Ladd said.

The group has called for a month's extension to the deadline (currently February 5) for public submissions on the proposal.

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