A redevelopment committee is set to back Erben’s $230 million Perth City Link project for approval, with the final decision to be made by the state’s land agency.
A redevelopment committee is set to back Erben’s $230 million Perth City Link project for approval, with the final decision to be made by the state’s land agency.
The Central Perth Land Redevelopment Committee has been recommended to support Erben’s application to build a 21-storey student accommodation development at Lot 19 of Perth City Link, at its upcoming meeting next week.
The committee’s recommendation of approval will be presented to the DevelopmentWA board, the final authoritative body.
Erben’s proposal comprises 1,146 beds, four commercial tenancies including a restaurant and tavern, and communal spaces including kitchen, laundry, gym, gaming lounge, and study areas.
A spokesperson for Erben previously told Business News the project was expected to cost $230 million to build.
A committee report submitted by DevelopmentWA planning and assets executive general manager Matt Ryan shows the proposal had gone through several reviews.
“The proposal has gone through a rigorous design review process to ensure the final outcome is contextually appropriate in its urban setting and delivers much needed student accommodation in a central and highly connected location, together with active ground floor uses contributing to the vibrancy of the precinct,” the report read.
“The design reflects a high-quality built-form outcome that supports the delivery of the Perth City Link vision and contributes to dwelling targets for the Central Perth region and the growing community of students driven by the adjacent ECU campus development.
“It is recommended that the Central Perth Land Redevelopment Committee recommend to the DevelopmentWA Board that it approve the development application … subject to the recommended conditions and advice notes in [attachment].”
The report said the proposal would contribute more than 1,000 new student residents to increase the population living in the inner city.
The proposed 21-storey height exceeds the 20-storey limit for the area but in the report, Mr Ryan said the overall outcome was consistent with the future of the area.
“The building mass is substantially less than envisaged by the design guidelines building envelope, responding to the structural load limitations of the site, while still maintaining a building of scale appropriately suited to the inner city context,” the report read.
“The height is in character with approved developments along Roe Street which range from 11 storeys to 23 storeys.”
Edith Cowan University’s inner-city campus is under construction and is expected to open by the start of the 2026 academic year.
The university is part of the $853 million Perth City Deal, a collaboration among all levels of governments.
The 13.5-hectare Perth City Link area at the intersection of Kings Square and Roe Street was developed to connect Northbridge with the CBD.
In November, the state government announced Erben and Oceania Capital Group as the preferred developers to build on the final Perth City Link lots at Kings Square.
