New infill drive to deliver 5,000 homes

While the push for more urban infill across Perth is nothing new, the state government lifted its game today with the release of Western Australia’s largest collection of infill opportunities to market, calling on the private sector to help achieve its vision.  

Branded ‘The Precincts’, the urban infill project will deliver 5,000 new dwellings across four sites in Bentley, Joondalup, Beaconsfield and Cannington over the next 15 years, which the government hopes will set a ‘new benchmark’ for medium-to-high density urban infill in WA.

Expressions of interest are currently being sought from private developers for the first two components of the project, Bentley 360 and Connect Joondalup, with the aim to create ‘neighbourhoods with heart and soul’.

The Department of Communities is undertaking a three-stage procurement process to identify a suitable developer or consortium, with expressions of interest closing July 25 2018.

Bentley 360, previously known as the Bentley regeneration project, will deliver at least 1,500 dwellings across 21.1 hectares and is anticipated to create more than 2,200 jobs across the course of development, injecting an estimated $1.089 billion into the state’s economy during construction.

As part of the redevelopment the Brownlie Towers public housing complex, which was built in 1970, will be demolished.

Connect Joondalup will be located within the 10.1ha Joondalup activity centre (the city centre), where 1,600 dwellings are expected to be built.

The construction period is expected to inject $1.185 billion into the state’s economy and create and support about 2,470 jobs.

Housing Minister Peter Tinley said The Precincts represented WA’s biggest ever collection of infill opportunities and would offer developers the chance to access prime state-owned land that supported medium-to-high density development.  

“The Precincts will launch a new approach to the way the Department of Communities releases significant land parcels in highly sought-after locations, and in how it collaborates with the development industry,” he said.

Today’s announcement follows the release of the state budget, which included $184 million over four years towards the Metronet Social and Affordable Housing and Jobs package, which will deliver an estimated 1,390 new homes linked to Metronet precincts as well as existing heritage line stations.

Planning for eight separate high density mixed-use sites is already under way as part of the package, with Bayswater, Redcliffe and Forrestfield stations, as well as at Midland and the Perth central business district already earmarked for development.

The three remaining sites are yet to be announced.

Transport and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said The Precincts program embraced the state government’s infill targets, leveraging links between land use and transport planning to create integrated and connected communities.

Urban Development Institute of Australia WA chief executive Allison Hailes said the property industry welcomed the opportunity to partner and that it was a timely opportunity to demonstrate what could be achieved through good planning and urban design. 

“It is good to see the government providing leadership ‘on the ground’ with regard to promoting more urban density in areas like Joondalup and Victoria Park,” she said. 

“It is important, given some of the reservations in local communities about urban infill and increasing density, that we show the positive results that can be achieved through good planning and urban design.

“We should be maximising these areas potential, particularly when in close proximity to public transport and major services and amenities.

"The precincts are likely to provide a range of housing options including more social and affordable housing, and a mix of dwelling types to suit a range of households needs.

“This is much-needed development in Perth.”