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The City of Perth is preparing for a major transformation over the next 12 years after the council approved a new planning framework to accommodate a near doubling of its population to 55,000 by 2036.
Under the proposal, the council is aiming to achieve a “single vision” for the city to provide investors and developers with certainty, while removing unnecessary planning layers and red tape.
The City of Perth largely covers the city centre and south to Kings Park and the University of Western Australia - an area that in 2023 had a population of more than 32,800.
The council last year released a local planning strategy to guide the city over the next 10 to 15 years as part of the state government’s plan for Perth and Peel to house a total of 3.5 million people by 2050.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas describes the proposal approved by the council last night as a dynamic new planning framework for a capital city that will enhance liveability and sustainability.
“There are some important elements in this scheme that will appeal to investors and developers, as well as facilitating a vibrant, liveable city for residents, businesses and visitors alike,” says Zempilas.
“That includes a significant increase in the plot ratios available for key areas of Perth.
“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.”
Zempilas says significant plot-ratio increases along St Georges Terrace, Kings Park Road and Adelaide Terrace will be the catalyst for new investment and redevelopment of older buildings in key areas of the city.
“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,” he says.
“Ultimately this will go a long way to delivering a more sustainable and liveable city.”
The plan will also introduce a Significant Tree Register into the new planning scheme, which Zempilas says is a key measure for sustainability.
“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,” he says.
The scheme has consolidated a number of local planning schemes as it sets a planning framework for development and investment in the Perth CBD over the next few decades, says City of Perth CEO Michelle Reynolds.
“I would like to commend our City Planning staff, they are technical experts who live and breathe our City,” she says.
After being approved by the council last night, the planning framework is next being sent to the Western Australian Planning Commission for approval before the changes are opened to the local community for feedback from businesses and residents.
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