New social rental apartment building in Perth CBD underway - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The WA government will spend more than $100 million on a new 30-storey apartment building in the Perth CBD. 

According to the government, the project will include 174 one- and two-bedroom rentals for affordable and social housing. 

The building is expected to be completed by 2029.

The WA government will spend more than $100 million on a new 30-storey apartment building in the Perth CBD, which it says will ease the city's housing shortage. 

Set to be built on Roe Street, adjacent to the Perth Arena, the project will include 174 one- and two-bedroom rentals, 139 of which will be used for affordable housing, with 35 for social housing, according to the government. 

The building is expected to be completed by 2029.

The government said the project is one of 21 currently under construction across Western Australia, with a total of 1,500 apartments set to be made available.

A render of the social rental apartment building next to Perth Arena.  (Supplied: Development WA)

Housing minister John Carey said the state government was "throwing everything" at accelerating housing supply across WA, with support from the federal government's Housing Australia Future Fund.

"Never have we seen in our state's history so many build-to-rent projects underway," Mr Carey said.

"These are the kinds of projects that we want … close to amenities, close to jobs.

Housing minister John Carey says he is hopeful the project will drive activity in the Perth CBD. (ABC News: Courtney Withers )

"Ultimately the aim is to enable more than 40 build-to-rent projects across WA, only made possible by the joint investment."

Build-to-rent projects are purpose-built for the long-term rental market.

They are typically large apartment complexes developed by private capital or super funds, with only two such developments currently operational in Perth.

This contrasts with traditional apartment complexes, which typically do not have a single owner.

Once constructed, the apartment will then be sold to a community housing provider, according to the government. 

Mr Carey said it would then be up to that provider to set the rental price.

The ABC spoke to multiple providers, none of which had heard of the new apartment building.

Anglicare WA chief executive Mark Glasson welcomed the announcement, saying any additional social and affordable housing stock was "sorely needed".

"Western Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis that is unprecedented in our history," Mr Glasson said.

Mark Glasson says he welcomes the new building project.  (ABC News: Keane Bourke)

"Every day we talk to people on low incomes who are struggling to find and keep rentals in this market ... [they] are forced to make impossible decisions to stretch their budgets thinly enough to keep their rentals.

"These apartments will benefit people who are doing it toughest, who aren't seeing the benefits of WA's strong economy and who would struggle to get a toehold in the state's private rental market."

He urged the state government to continue its Rent Relief Program and ramp up construction efforts further.