If Perth continues to grow by building large, detached houses on the urban fringe, many residents will miss out on suitable housing options, researchers say.

Their ideas about increasing density in the city's inner suburbs are the focus of a new book just launched by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre at Curtin University.

Associate Professor Stephen Rowley, one of the book's co-editors, told ABC Radio Perth that the WA capital was not managing new housing development well.

"What we really need is an increase in the amount of development in our inner suburbs," he said.

"That doesn't have to be high-rise apartment blocks — it should be a mix of medium-density townhouses, semidetached, and low-rise apartments."

Residents often object to increasing density in established suburbs, fearing a loss of amenity. ( Supplied: Craig Dermer )

Dr Rowley said the industry found it easier to deliver greenfield sites on the periphery of the city than to increase the density of already built-up areas.

He said the current approach was often "piecemeal" — demolishing single houses for new buildings — which increased the number of cars without increasing amenity.

"What we need is precinct-level development where you have a collection of lots, or you've got an area or large piece of land where you can do infill development at scale," he said.

"That means you can deliver a range of different options but you can deliver amenity as well."

Locals often oppose higher density

Such development, however, is often fiercely resisted by local residents and councils, who fear an influx of traffic and loss of green space.

"That is a natural human reaction to change," Dr Rowley conceded.

"You are unsure what is going to happen — you worry there is going to be increased traffic, parking issues, you worry that perhaps it will have a negative impact on your property value."

In the Town of Cambridge, local residents overthrew the mayor at the 2015 election after the council voted in favour of allowing higher density development in parts of the area.

The State Government eventually intervened to overturn the approval for apartment buildings.

Dr Rowley said the solution lay in involving local communities in the planning process and explaining the benefits of increased density.

He pointed to Subiaco, White Gum Valley and East Perth as pockets where urban infill had been done well.

"There are a lot of myths around about infill destroying local areas but if it is done well it can have quite the opposite effect," he said.

"It can really improve the quality of areas and have a positive impact on values."

The Pocket apartment complex in Claremont is an example of the design the Government wants. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

'Not in my street' attitude criticised

Despite entrenched community opposition, Dr Rowley is optimistic that people will come to see the benefits of increased density.

He said currently Perth had limited options for older people who wished to downsize and stay in the same area, as well as young people who could only afford small places.

"As the population does age and people start thinking about what they do in retirement in terms of housing options, I think they will become a little more flexible," he said.

"We just need some very strong leadership at a local government level to try and engage with the community and explain why we need to do this.