This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
ARCHITECTUS has received approval for Western Australia’s first ever social and affordable build-to-rent project, at a former public housing site in Highgate.
Located at 49-67 Smith Street, around 2km north of the Perth CBD, the the mixed-tenure redevelopment will comprise 109 apartments including 78 dedicated to social housing, 22 as affordable rentals and seven as disability accommodation plus two on-site overnight assistance units.
The one- and two-bedroom residences will be built with communal facilities such as a rooftop edible garden, residents’ lounge, courtyard, library and parking for 62 cars and bike storage.
The project is being developed by a consortium comprised of Tetris Capital and Community Housing Ltd and represents the state’s first private-public partnership to utilise a 52-year ground lease on state-owned land.
“This project will set a precedent and play a vital role in alleviating the strain on Perth’s rental market by offering a diverse, high-quality mix of social and affordable housing options,” said Mark Black, principal at Architectus.
“Inspired by the rich heritage and culture of Highgate, the Smith Street BTR project is grounded in three fundamental principles: connection, community, and quality. Our vision is to create an integrated, pedestrian-friendly precinct that blends into the existing urban fabric, fostering a strong sense of community and offering high-quality living experiences for all residents.”
The Smith Street BTR Project site is part of our the Western Australian state government’s Housing Diversity Pipeline, unlocking lazy Government land.
The 4,962sqm site will incorporate two buildings across three and four storeys, connected via an external stairway, with an internal community garden at the heart of the project.
The seven SDA apartments will be NDIS-compliant, along with two onsite overnight assistance units for staff, providing essential support to residents with high physical support needs.
“The receipt of the Development Approval marks the latest key milestone achieved for the Smith St BTR project and we are delighted with the rate of progress toward construction commencement achieved to date,” said Brent De Jong, director at Tetris Capital.
“We demanded a truly exceptional design response for this trailblazing project and the design delivers. We look forward to accommodating a diverse and thriving new community in this inner-city sanctuary for the people of Highgate.”
The Smith Street BTR project at Highgate will be delivered in three stages, with the demolition and associated site readiness works anticipated for an early 2025 completion. With the Western Australian Cook government issuing a demolition permit for the site back in September.
