Planning Minister Rob Stokes has ruled out asking an independent commission to hold a public hearing into a proposal to modify the Barangaroo development to accommodate James Packer's proposed $1.5 billion hotel and casino.

Mr Stokes has the power to ask the independent Planning Assessment Commission to convene a full public hearing into the application, lodged by Barangaroo developer Lend Lease.

The high rise development as viewed from Barangaroo Point. Credit:Dallas Kilponen

But he was confident that having the application examined by a new independent design advisory panel before it was sent to the commission for determination would provide adequate scrutiny.