This is a joint study by the Property Council of Australia, the Office of Senator Scott Ludlam and the Australian Urban Design Research Centre.

This report examines the potential number of new dwellings that could be accommodated in medium and high density scenarios in existing and often underutilised areas along Perth’s Activity Corridors. The broader purpose was to explore the opportunity to transform (or in many cases return) what are currently congested and car dominated roads into a vibrant series of High Streets and urban villages that are attractive places to live and work.

The Study builds on the ground-breaking Transforming Australian Cities report (2009) which found the potential to house an additional 1 – 2.5 million people along Melbourne’s existing tram and priority bus lanes, in an area equivalent to only 7% of Melbourne’s urban footprint. It also draws on the exemplary city-scale planning, visioning and engagement processes developed under South Australia’s Integrated Design Commission.

Under the State Government’s strategic plan for Perth - Directions 2031 and Beyond the government is targeting a 50 percent improvement of current infill trends, which equates to 124,000 new dwellings to be delivered through infill development. It prioritises development in Activity Centres to meet this target.

This report demonstrates that Perth’s infill target could easily be met through medium density development along the seven corridors. It also found:

• A total developable land supply along seven Activity corridors of 1575 hectares.
• A total potential yield of 94,500 - 252,000 new dwellings at medium to high density scenarios (R60 - R160).
• Medium density (R80) development along the seven corridors would accommodate 100% of Perth’s infill target of 124,000 dwellings to 2031.
• Medium-high density development (R100) would account for 126% (157,508 dwellings) of the Directions 2031 infill target of 124,000 dwellings to 2031.

The report also helps local government achieve its infill targets under Directions 2031 with information about potential dwelling yields along corridors at a three different densities. In many cases an entire local government’s Directions 2031 infill target can be achieved through infill along one or two future High Streets alone. Based on the latest Local Government housing targets in Delivering Directions 2031 (2012),

Infill housing development and urban regeneration at the precinct level will deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits. This report identifies eighteen.However Perth faces a number of barriers to infill development, including higher construction costs, community concerns about higher density and a lack of major public transport infrastructure. This report makes fifteen recommendations to overcome these barriers and provide the institutional circuit breakers needed in our state and federal governance, planning and transport systems and community visioning and engagement processes.