LandCorp wants to deliver Perth’s ‘missing middle’ – the name given to the type of homes that are neither low-density suburbia nor high-density towers. The industry hopes will deliver housing choice and affordability – prices of micro-lot homes are usually around 70-80 per cent of the median house price in an area – for first-home buyers, empty-nesters, downsizers and investors, without building out greenery or compromising Perth’s liveability. Specifically designed to maximise the small land size, they can also serve as a transition zone to soften any visual jolt between high-rise town centres and low-density housing – the idea is that they are and should be located close to public open space, public transport and other amenity and services to compensate for the smaller amount of private space. “Just 19 per cent of housing approvals in Western Australia relate to medium-density dwellings – but this type of housing offers a better use of land, energy-efficient design and a great deal of choice and diversity in product,” he said. “LandCorp is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable, innovative development in this area – leading by doing, and exploring new technologies and approaches to allow industry to follow with confidence.”

Thus, Landcorp will lead on the Fremantle and North Coogee developments, looking for builders to help it deliver “well-located, quality medium density housing”. Shoreline estate at North Coogee will get a new precinct, Salt Lane, with 35 terrace houses designed by architects including Gresley Abas Architects in the first stage of the precinct, on micro-lots up to 328sqm to offer affordable coastal living. An artist's impression of the Knutsford development. Credit:LandCorp Salt Lane will ultimately have up to 170 new dwellings and have a focus on and diversity, with terrace homes, townhouses and low-rise apartments; sustainability, with climate-responsive design, and liveability, with landscaping, pedestrian and cyclist-friendly streets to encourage a “slower” environment. The New East Village at Knutsford development in Fremantle will have 36 survey strata townhouses on lots sized 189-269sqm.

Designed by architect Michael Patroni, they will range from 3x2 houses to those with adaptable spaces for uses such as home offices and studio apartments. In a WA first, they will feature the latest blockchain technology. The Knutsford precinct redevelopment area is also the location of the first Nightingale Housing model in Perth, in which owner-occupiers can co-design spaces that place sustainability and liveability benefits front and centre. Its earlier stages recently won the Excellence in Small-Scale Infill Development award at the 2018 Urban Development Institute of Australia WA Awards. Builders are invited to register their interest to work with LandCorp on these developments before November 20. The successful partners are expected to be appointed in early 2019. To download the EOI documents, visit tenderlink.com/landcorpau.

An artist's impression of the Salt Lane medium-density housing planned for the Shoreline Estate in North Coogee. Credit:LandCorp A successful trial of 80-square-metre micro-lots in Ellenbrook's town centre announced earlier this year prompted the government to announce a draft policy to shrink the size of WA's minimum block from 100 square metres to 80. Industrial land releases include launch of Peel Business Park Landcorp has also released 131 commercial and industrial lots including Meridian Park, Latitude 32 and Gap Ridge Industrial, estates strategically positioned near key transport routes. In addition it has released the Stage 1 lots at Peel Business Park, Nambeelup, with a variety of lot sizes across 120ha of land.

Loading This area also includes a renewable energy Microgrid, one of the largest ever undertaken in an Australian industrial development, which will service the entire development once complete. The lots will also have high-speed internet and reticulated gas services from the Bunbury to Dampier gas pipeline. Peel Business Park, 1000 hectares in total and strategically located between Bunbury and the Perth CBD, is expected to create more than 300 construction jobs during development and 160 permanent positions once the first stage is fully operational. “Industrial estates are powerhouses for the Western Australian economy,” Mr Marra said.

“In the past year, we have sold more than 42.6 hectares of industrial and commercial lots, which will result in 74 business, 739 jobs and more than $390 million in economic output.” In November, LandCorp will awarding the first construction contract for trunk infrastructure works with planned commencement early 2019. An earlier expression of interest project has shown early demand, with nine agri-businesses or general industrial companies wanting to relocate or start new businesses at Peel Business Park.