The McGowan Government is forging ahead with the revitalisation of the Hilton suburb with 32 new timber frame homes for social housing.
Timber-frame builds are an alternative construction method allowing faster turnaround times in Western Australia's heated construction market.
The 32 homes, which will be a mix of one and two-bedroom houses, will be spread across the suburb and help meet the demand for smaller homes in the area.
Fourteen of the new homes have been architecturally designed through a design competition while the other 18 have been designed through the Department of Communities' Design and Construct Panel.
All homes have been designed to be comfortable and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities and to optimise natural ventilation and heating. They have also been designed to fit with the suburb's existing character that includes post-war character homes.
The homes are being constructed by different builders at different times with all 32 homes due to be completed by late 2022.
Timber-frame homes are faster than building brick homes, mainly because of the current high demand on the bricklaying trade. They also have a range of benefits including the sustainability and environmental properties of timber, providing flexibility for future modifications and an appealing aesthetic variation to traditional brick homes.
The 32 new houses are part of the Department of Communities' ongoing Hilton Revitalisation Project.
The project aims to increase the suburb's diversity of housing that used to be nearly 100 per cent social housing in the 1950s. This is being achieved by redeveloping lots through selective sub-divisions, the sale of culturally significant post-war houses, the sale of vacant land and new social housing construction.
To date, the majority of social houses of heritage significance have been sold to private owners, providing these buyers with the opportunity to refurbish the homes and enhance the streetscape.
Communities retained 16 lots for the construction of the 32 new social homes. Each lot has been subdivided to allow retention of the existing house of heritage significance on the front lot and two new social homes to be built on the rear battle-axe lot.
Hilton, which is 4 kilometres from the Fremantle CBD, has become a desirable suburb featuring culturally significant post-war character homes and excellent access to public transport.
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"My priority is to see as many Western Australians as possible in safe, secure and sustainable homes.
"It is really pleasing that these 32 new timber-frame homes are on the way and will help meet the increased demand for smaller homes for social housing in Hilton.
"The homes will provide a greater diversity of housing and can be built faster than traditional brick homes, potentially housing people on our public housing wait list earlier.
"The Hilton Revitalisation Project has enabled the preservation of original post-war character homes synonymous with Hilton and for them to be sold privately, as well as providing opportunities for people to buy affordable land to build their dream homes.
"The Project also means that, while the overall social housing presence in the suburb is reducing, we are now constructing new social housing that is modern, attractive and better suited to a variety of tenants."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"Hilton is a great community in a suburb full of history and character.
"This revitalisation project will be very welcome, and will help to make Hilton an even more vibrant place for families and individuals to live."
