Bigger Perth on the cards after city council passes planning scheme changes to promote higher plot ratio

Perth is set to double in size, with a new planning scheme allowing the base plot ratio to more than triple in some parts of the city, under the biggest planning changes in two decades. Local Planning Scheme 3, which was set to be approved at council on Tuesday night, will guide the city’s development over the next 10 to 15 years, helping it to boost the local residential population of the City of Perth from 33,000 to 55,000 people by 2036. The changes boost floor space capacity by an extra 116 per cent — allowing bigger offices, apartments towers and shops — through increases to the base and bonus plot ratios. West Perth would take the brunt of development with a 677 per cent increase in floor space under the base plot ratio system, while Northbridge’s capacity would increase only 36 per cent. Central Perth’s capacity would grow 87 per cent, Claisebrook would increase 152 per cent and East Perth would rise 62 per cent. Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas was the scheme was designed to make the capital city grow. “The idea is to create a city of people,” he said. “Unashamedly we want more residents, more workers and more visitors. We all know that having more people living and working in the city supports business, supports a vibrant capital city and community.” Mr Zempilas said the significant plot ratio increases on St Georges Terrace — where the plot ratio will rise from a maximum 9:1 under the existing base and bonus system to 15:1 in the new scheme — as well as Kings Park Road and Adelaide Terrace, would be the catalyst for redevelopment of older buildings built between the 1950s and 1990s. “New planning incentives will encourage developers to provide more residential development, protect our heritage buildings, deliver environmentally sustainable design and provide opportunities to inject more cultural spaces into our capital city,” he said. The key plot ratio increases are on St Georges Terrace, where the plot ratio increases from 6:1 to 11:1; King’s Park Road, where it would more than triple from 2:1 to 7:1; and Adelaide Terrace, where the base would double from 4:1 to 8:1. The Stirling Street area would increase from 4:1 to 7:1, while City West, Watertown and other parts of West Perth would increase from 3:1 to 5.5:1. This excludes bonus plot ratios that can allow a further 50 per cent floor space. Anna Vanderbom, chair of the city’s Western Residents Association, said the plan put the cart before the horse, because it did not consider traffic problems. Ms Vanderbom called on both the City of Perth and the State Government to develop a light transport plan, claiming some western suburbs roads leading into the city were often at a standstill during peak-hour traffic. Under current regulations for basic plot ratios, there is capacity for an additional 4.59 million sqm of floor space across the city, or 3.3 million square metres if land with potential development constraints, such as heritage sites, is removed.