A towering 146-apartment complex near the Perth CBD will be home to 300 people in the inner-city through a mix of social housing and private ownership.

The State Government said yesterday it had partnered with developer Peet for a proposed 20-storey development, valued at $45 million, on Pier Street.

Once a carpark, the empty lot is close to a block of 161 apartments built a few years ago, which includes social housing.

Perth MP John Carey said there would be more life and activity in the area with more students moving in nearby.

Camera Icon John Carey and WA Apartments Advocacy’s Samantha Reece. Credit: The West Australian

“Right on this street we have two major student apartment towers that are nearing completion which will be open next January or February,” he said.

“We’re doing planning reform to drive greater density in the city and then this kind of partnership ... which is critical to the future of Perth.

“I can tell you the key thing we’re missing in the city is more people.”

Fifteen per cent of the apartments to be built will be set aside for social housing and another 15 per cent for the State’s shared-equity program.

The remaining 70 per cent would be available through private sale.

Department of Communities Commercial Operations assistant director-general Greg Cash said the development had been in the works for several years.

“There are eight sites we’re working on developing,” he said.

“There’s this one, another in Hill Street in East Perth and a number of other locations around Metronet train sites where we’re negotiating with the private sector.”

The apartments will include powered parking bays for electric cars and a car-share service.

“When you’re so close to the train you don’t always need access to a vehicle,” Mr Cash said. “If you can establish a ride-sharing, car-sharing arrangement when you have got long-distance travel you can actually used the car and share it among the other tenants in the complex.”

Construction will start in late 2020 with work expected to be completed in 2022.