- Albanese and Cook Labor Governments secure builders to deliver 1,146 new affordable and social homes
- PACT Construction, EMCO Building and Icon Construction have been announced as the successful builders to deliver 14 affordable and social build-to-rent apartment developments
- The announcement is the next step in the $443 million housing initiative being delivered in partnership between the State and Federal governments
- The 14 projects will comprise approximately 80 per cent affordable and 20 per cent social housing
One of the biggest affordable and social housing construction programs in Western Australian history reached a major milestone today with the announcement of three builders set to deliver 1,146 new homes throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
PACT Construction, EMCO Building and Icon Construction have been selected after a tender launched in April aimed at delivering 14 affordable and social build-to-rent apartment projects.
WA company PACT Construction will deliver developments in White Gum Valley, Ellenbrook, Wellard, Kelmscott, Subiaco, Butler and Bassendean, delivering 501 apartments.
EMCO Building, a leading WA building company, will develop apartments in Woodbridge, Rivervale, Redcliffe, Cannington, Malaga and Midland, delivering 470 apartments.
The apartments will be one and two-bedroom apartments, and will be around 80 per cent affordable and 20 per cent social housing, all of which are located close to METRONET stations or high-frequency public transport corridors.
Construction on the first project is set to commence in Quarter 1 of 2026, with the build time of each project expected to take between 16 and 30 months.
The agreement, through the Federal Government's Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and the National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF), will see the Cook Government provide upfront capital investment of $443 million to deliver the new homes.
On completion each apartment development will be sold to an appointed Community Housing Provider (CHP) who will be able to access concessional loans from the HAFF and NHAF.
The 14 developments are planned to be delivered in three broad stages. Stage One includes White Gum Valley, Wellard, Ellenbrook, Woodbridge, Rivervale and Redcliffe, with staggered construction activities forecast to commence from the first quarter of 2026.
Stage Two consists of the seven developments at Butler, Kelmscott, Subiaco, Bassendean, Cannington, Malaga and Midland. These developments are subject to further planning and design by government prior to commencement, with construction anticipated to start in 2026.
Icon Construction has been awarded the Roe Street Perth City Link development project, delivering 175 apartments and is progressing rapidly with the construction of Perth's first 100 per cent buildtorent development at Pier Street, East Perth.
Pier Street has reached the podium level, with the first 11 storeys now complete.
The 29-storey apartment building is being delivered in partnership between the Cook and Albanese Labor Governments and will provide 219 new apartments, of which 30 per cent will be new social rental homes (66 apartments) and 20 per cent will be affordable rental homes (44 apartments).
Full completion of the Pier Street development is anticipated in 2027.
As stated by Planning and Lands and Housing and Works Minister John Carey:
"With PACT Construction, EMCO Building and Icon Construction announced as the preferred builders, we have reached an important step in the delivery of 1,146 affordable and social homes.
"By partnering with these three top-tier apartment builders to deliver 14 build-to-rent developments we can fast-track the delivery of social and affordable housing in well-suited locations- close to jobs, public transport and essential services.
"Our record $5.8 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures is bolstered by a strong partnership with the Federal Government, supercharging delivery and helping to get large scale projects off the ground."
As stated by Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman:
"Labor is buildingmore homes right now, right here in Perth because more homes means more affordable housing for everyone.
"Today's milestone is more proof that our local community is being listened to and is receiving massive national investment.
"Boosting housing supply is a priority of the Albanese Government.
"We are working alongside Premier Roger Cook to build Western Australia's future and deliver on our promises to Perth."
