This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE City of Perth is aiming to nearly double its population over the next 12 years to 55,000, with council approving a new planning framework that will remove red tape and encourage higher density development.
The Local Planning Scheme will now go to the Western Australian Planning Commission for approval, before being advertised for further input from City of Perth residents, businesses and the broader community.
“The Scheme sets a single vision for Perth, giving investors and developers certainty, while removing unnecessary planning layers and red tape,” the council said.
The City of Perth currently has a population of nearly 33,000.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said elements in the Scheme would appeal to investors and developers, “as well as facilitating a vibrant, liveable City for residents, businesses and visitors alike”.
The Scheme includes a significant increase in the plot ratios available for key areas of Perth, including along St Georges Terrace, Kings Park Road and Adelaide Terrace. Zempilas said these “will be the catalyst for new investment and redevelopment of our older buildings in key areas of the city”.
“At a time when cities are competing for investment, this new planning scheme creates important new opportunities for landowners to look at their properties, see the possibilities, and hopefully motivate them to revitalise and reinvest in existing buildings.
“New planning incentives will encourage developers to provide more residential development, protect our heritage buildings, deliver environmentally sustainable design and provide opportunities to inject more cultural spaces into our capital city.
“Ultimately this will go a long way to delivering a more sustainable and liveable city.”
The Scheme also stipulates the creation of a Significant Tree Register.
“With the correct checks and balances in place, we can all do our bit in both the public space and on private property to support the planting of new trees and the protection of our urban canopy,” Zempilas said.
City of Perth CEO Michelle Reynolds said the Scheme had consolidated a number of local planning schemes and was designed to set a planning framework for development and investment in the City for decades to come.
