Plans revealed for three new towers in Perth CBD to transform Yagan Square area

Thousands more people will call the Perth CBD home as the State Government finalises plans to develop city blocks that have been empty for years.

Three towers — to include a mix of student and rental accommodation, short-stay apartments and a hotel — will be built next to the $853 million Edith Cowan University campus that’s under construction at Yagan Square.

The deal to sell the last lots in Perth City Link — created when railway lines at Wellington Street were sunk between 2011 and 2014 — is expected to be worth $500m and house at least 1500 people. They range in size from 2115sqm to 3941sqm.

One will be a 19-storey student accommodation building on Roe Street, to be developed by local property group Erben Place Pty Ltd. It will house more than 1100 students and will form a central part of the State Government’s vision to revitalise the area, after the Yagan Square market hall was transformed into Stories, a multi-level food and drink venue.

Next to the student tower will be a 32-storey build-to-rent development to provide 200 new apartments, as well as a 26-storey hotel and short-stay accommodation building, including several commercial properties and shops.

The rental apartments will be a mix of one, two and three-bedroom dwellings.

Design guidelines are currently set at 30 storeys, but DevelopmentWA is considering allowing the development to be two extra storeys high.

To be developed by Perth-based Oceania Capital Group, the development will span lots 12 and 18 of the City Link area, with the student accommodation on lot 19. Lot 11, put for tender in June — as revealed by The Sunday Times — will return to the market.

“These lots are part of our plan to support delivery of more housing that is well-located, affordable and suits the needs of Western Australians,” Premier Roger Cook said on Saturday.

“Boosting housing supply and choice in the inner city also helps to further Perth’s growth as a thriving modern city that is liveable and attractive to locals and visitors alike.”

For years, governments and the City of Perth have wanted more people to live in the CBD, as they do in Sydney and Melbourne and overseas.

Over the last 20 years, there have been dramatic changes to Perth’s skyline with the advent of new offices by mining companies, such as Chevron in Elizabeth Quay, and new hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton.

But the government now hopes the Perth CBD can take another step forwards in the WA capital’s evolution as a world-class destination by getting people to live in the centre of Perth.

The government wants people to not just shop and work in the city, but to live there — putting money towards a public swimming pool at the WACA and a new school in East Perth.

“My government is investing hundreds of millions to drive economic activity in our inner city and make it a fantastic place to live, including our key investments in a new East Perth Primary School, WACA aquatic facility and ECU City Campus,” Mr Cook said.

Planning and Housing Minister John Carey said the influx of people living and studying in the city, would breathe new life into the CBD.

“Along with the ECU City Campus, which will bring 9000 to 10,000 students a day, this will provide a major boost to small business and breathe more vibrancy into our growing city centre,” Mr Carey said.

“Our government continues to drive the revitalisation of the Perth CBD and we’re investing hundreds of millions of dollars to create jobs, economic activity and attract more people to Perth.”