Midland set for major transformation as council backs mixed-use rezoning

Midland is on the cusp of significant change. The City of Swan has backed a proposed rezoning of a 12-hectare precinct along Great Eastern Highway that could introduce hundreds of apartments, retail spaces, and civic facilities to a suburb long dominated by warehouses and logistics operations.

The rezoning, which covers land stretching from near the Midland Gate shopping centre towards the Swan River, represents one of the most ambitious planning shifts in Perth's eastern corridor in over a decade. If approved at state level, it would introduce medium-density residential zoning alongside commercial and mixed-use precincts—a marked departure from the area's industrial heritage.

Perth's property market has shifted dramatically in recent years. With the median house price across WA now hovering around $680,000 and vacancy rates below 1 per cent, developers and planners are increasingly looking inland to established suburbs with untapped potential. Midland, with its established infrastructure, proximity to regional rail services, and growing workforce demand from nearby employment nodes, has caught their attention.

The proposal aligns with broader state planning strategy. The Metropolitan Region Scheme Amendment targets growth corridors east of the metropolitan area, and Midland—sitting roughly 20 kilometres from the CBD—fits the bill. Early concept plans show a mixed-use village arrangement, with ground-floor retail, offices above, and residential towers climbing to eight storeys in places.

For existing residents and business owners, the changes will be profound. The suburb has historically served as Perth's industrial backbone, home to manufacturing plants, freight depots, and service industries. That character won't disappear overnight, but the introduction of new housing stock, cafés, and public spaces will reshape daily life.

Local stakeholders remain divided. Some see economic opportunity and welcome the prospect of residential growth in an underutilised area. Others worry about traffic impacts on Great Eastern Highway, parking pressures, and whether existing community infrastructure—schools, health services, green space—can absorb a population jump of several thousand.

The City of Swan is now preparing detailed design guidelines ahead of formal submission to the Department of Planning. If approved, early works could begin within 18 months, with the first residents potentially moving in by 2028 or 2029.

It's a gamble, but one Perth's tight market may demand. With established suburbs like Joondalup and Wanneroo already commanding premium prices, developers and planners are betting that Midland's combination of accessibility and affordability—relative to inner suburbs—will prove irresistible to working families and investors alike.

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