'Marvella Heights' at 29 St Paul's Way in Bakery Hill will likely be comprised of predominately townhouses, according to a planning application lodged to council.

Developers Horizon Synergy initially received the green light for the $20 million St Paul's Way project from Planning Minister Richard Wynne back in 2016, which would have initially comprised of 25 townhouses and 77 apartments.

But the site may now hold 85 dwellings in total, with only 30 apartments and 55 townhouses. Developer David O'Brien said they decided to change tack because of the current societal view on apartment living in Australia.

"We just felt townhouses were probably more palatable than apartments in this market currently," he said.

The move reflects Ballarat's demographic data: 2.3 per cent of residents live in apartments, more than four times that in semi-detatched homes or townhouses.

The lower area of the land will contain the 'Skywalk' apartments on three levels, with car parking on the ground level. A bridge from the outdoor piazza will attach to the complex.

The project on the 9608-square-metre block has not had a linear history, facing criticism from nearby neighbours in particular around the density of apartments originally planned.

Last year, a planning stoush erupted between City of Ballarat and developers, as to who would foot the bill to upgrade Faith Lane, a gravel access road linking St Paul's Way and Barkly Street.

The site is where Ballarat diggers met for the monster meeting of November 1854, unfurling the flag of the Southern Cross.

The development has also slightly upped the amount of car parking at the site, with every dwelling now having a car space, which Mr O'Brien said was for "sale-ability" purposes.

There are also additional visitor parks and bicycle spots compared to the 2016 iteration of the site.

The amount of Ballarat's population that currently lives in an apartment or flat is significantly lower than the state and national averages.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2016 Census data, about 11.6 per cent of Victoria's population live in an apartment. Townhouses are more popular in Ballarat, with just under ten per cent of residents living in that type of dwelling.

Balconies on each of the townhouses have images of Ballarat's past, including recognisable historic streetscapes and sepia-toned pictures of gold mining.

"We're just trying to reflect some of the heritage of Bakery Hill," Mr O'Brien said. "There was an opportunity to have some 100-year-old photographs etched into the balcony, and it'll look quite good."

The land at Marvella Heights is at the same distance above sea level as the Ballarat Town Hall.

St Paul's Way is not the only major apartment building currently going through the City of Ballarat planning approvals process.

The five-storey, 16.4-metre tall Nightingale building on Davey Street is projected to have 27 one and two-bedroom apartments, 14 underground car parks and a small cafe on the ground floor.

City of Ballarat aims to make 50 per cent of city's development infill by 2040.

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