AN inner Perth built-to-rent development with social and affordable rentals is a step closer, after the Western Australian Cook government issued a demolition permit for “lazy” government land in Highgate home to the Stirling Towers public housing high-rise.
A development application for the built form development has been lodged with the City of Vincent by a consortium comprising Community Housing Ltd (CHL) and Tetris Capital Pty Ltd, who will manage the site readiness works on behalf of the state government.
Brajkovich Demolition & Salvage (WA) was awarded the demolition contract for the 12-storey and three-storey complex earlier this year and will now commence structural demolition works at the site. Demolition and associated site readiness works are expected to be completed in early 2025.
The Smith Street build-to-rent project will see the former public housing site transformed into 109 new apartments. Of those, 42 will be one-bedroom and 67 two-bedroom. There will be 78 apartments allocated to social housing, 22 to affordable housing and nine will specialist disability rental units and on-site overnight assistance accommodation.
It will replace the 79 public housing units previously on the site, which has been vacant since the last tenants moved out 10 years ago.
“Once completed, this build-to-rent project will provide social and affordable housing options close to a range of amenities including the Perth CBD, shops, public transport and parks, as well as education, sporting and entertainment facilities,” Housing Minister John Carey said.
The Smith Street project site is part of the Housing Diversity Pipeline unlocking “lazy” government land that is sitting idle and could instead be directed towards boosting housing supply.
It will be undertaken in a staged approach including demolition and preparation of the site, construction of the development and a ground lease for management of the complex.
