WA government declares 10 station precincts for fast-tracked housing

The Western Australian government has declared 10 train station precincts that will be subject to "improvement plans and schemes" by the state, designed to drive housing development in metropolitan Perth.

The 10 stations are the first to be prioritised by the government, with precincts defined as the land within an 800-metre radius of each train station. According to the government's media release, the reforms will establish the state as the body that sets the height and zoning density settings within these precincts, as well as act as the responsible decision-maker.

The government's hope is that the precincts will "boost urban infill," "unlock more land for housing around transport hubs" and "enhance consistency in planning and decision-making."

The first ten stations to be selected include:

Planning and Lands Minister John Carey commented that "while some councils have done great work and embraced a reform agenda, many have lacked the ability, the will or both to drive the change we need to get more housing out the door."

"We are stepping in to ensure a consistent and streamlined approach to deliver vibrant, mixed-use precincts within walking distance to train stations," he said. "These precincts will supercharge the delivery of more supply in targeted locations."

The government's media release notes, "Consistent and coordinated planning frameworks are key to realising the full potential of transit-oriented development and increasing density in high-amenity areas.

"Consultation with local governments will help to inform context specific precinct planning. This process will ensure that development complements the character of each precinct and delivers greater housing diversity."

A similar approach is already underway in Victoria, with 60 activity centres slated for planning reforms that will come into effect next year. In New South Wales, faster approvals and amended planning controls are being implemented across 37 transport-oriented development (TOD) precincts, and eight priority high-growth areas have been designated for accelerated rezoning.

Western Australia's deputy premier and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said the government's approach builds on the delivery of Perth's Metronet rail network upgrade. The Metronet upgrade has seen several architects contribute to its design, including Hassell, which delivered five new elevated stations, and Woods Bagot in collaboration with Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick, TCL and UDLA on the Morley-Ellenbrook line, which recently won the Australian Institute of Architects 2025 National Award for Sustainable Architecture.

"Our government is focused on driving transit-oriented development to support vibrant communities, and these reforms will help streamline approvals and improve consistency," said Saffioti. "More housing choice around our train station precincts will be critical to supporting our city as it grows, and implementing these improvement plans will ensure we expedite the delivery of new developments for the benefit of the community."

The current series of ArchitectureAu Asks, which tackles the rise of high-density housing, invites experts to respond to the provocation, "When it comes to apartment towers in our suburbs, how high is too high?" Read their responses here.