BY THE TIME OUR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HIT MIDDLE AGE, THEY WILL BE SHARING THEIR CITY WITH AN EXTRA 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE – BUT WHERE ARE ALL THESE NEW PEOPLE GOING TO LIVE?
By the time our current high school students hit middle age, they will be sharing their city with an extra 1.5 million people – but where are all these new people going to live?
Well there’s no doubt that Perth’s city skyline has changed over the last few years with apartment buildings sprouting up in many inner city locations, accommodating mostly singles and couples without children. But what has also changed in recent times and is possibly not quite so visible, is how apartment living has also taken hold in the suburbs.
If the great Australian dream was once a happy couple with 2.5 children behind a white picket fence around a quarter acre block, it has undergone a remake of significant proportions for a new generation where people marry and have children later – or not at all – and households come in all shapes and sizes.
At the same time, we are time poor and the idea of keeping acres of turf alive through a Perth summer, is enough to make many wilt!
Earlier this year research released by Bankwest showed the number of medium-density home approvals (town houses and apartments) across Australia was heading towards a 20-year high and medium density approvals in WA were up more than 30% over the last 12-months.
So if you’re ready for a new ‘dream’ and a stylish apartment or town house appeals, consider some of the new suburban developments – which you will usually find along the coast or near transport nodes, shopping precincts and employment hubs.
You will find some great examples among our recent UDIA Awards for Excellence finalists and winners including Cockburn Central, The Primary at Coolbellup and The Village at Wellard.
Closer to the city, there are some great options – take a look at what’s impressed the UDIA WA judges including new options in Subi Centro; the Perry Lakes Redevelopment in Floreat; One on Aberdeen in Northbridge; Spring View Towers in Rivervale and Monarc Apartments in Highgate, or the Enclave, East Perth.
Sweet (Australian) dreams!