Perth Northbridge Apartments: 280-unit $185M project approved

A major mixed-use development has cleared a critical planning hurdle, with the City of Perth granting approval for a 15-storey tower on Lord Street in Northbridge that will deliver 280 apartments, ground-floor retail and a basement car park.

The approval, finalised late last week, represents one of the largest residential projects fast-tracked through the city's streamlined approval process in the past 18 months. The $185 million development by Sydney-based Aurora Projects is expected to break ground in the fourth quarter of 2026, with completion targeted for mid-2029.

"This is exactly the kind of density and mixed-use activation the CBD needs," said Cr Karen Vernon, chair of Perth Council's development committee. "We're seeing investor appetite return, and approvals like this will help unlock supply in a market where vacancy sits below 1 per cent."

The Northbridge site, a former automotive showroom, will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments priced from $580,000 to $1.2 million. Affordable housing requirements mean 12 per cent of dwellings will be offered at 25 per cent below market rates, addressing WA's acute housing shortage.

The project's timing aligns with Perth's emergence as Australia's fastest-growing capital market. The WA median of $680,000—up 16 per cent year-on-year—has driven institutional investment northward, but CBD apartments remain relatively affordable compared to Sydney and Melbourne equivalents at similar price points.

Ground-floor retail will span 2,500 square metres, with planners noting the development's proximity to Perth Station and the revitalised East Perth precinct. Anchor retail tenants are already in discussions, sources familiar with the deal confirm.

The Lord Street approval comes as Perth's fringe suburbs—Joondalup, Wanneroo and Ellenbrook—continue absorbing family-focused development. However, planners emphasise that inner-city infill is crucial to managing sprawl and supporting public transport investment.

"We've got a 15-year pipeline of approvals in the outer suburbs, but without CBD density, we're not creating the mixed-income communities we need," said one planning consultant who requested anonymity.

Aurora Projects declined to comment on pre-sales or specific retailer agreements but confirmed construction financing is in place. The developer has flagged a soft launch of apartments to investors in August 2026.

The approval also signals Perth Council's confidence in the broader CBD recovery narrative, with three other major residential projects (totalling 620 apartments) currently in detailed design phase across the precinct.

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