Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct nurses and health staff get $100m social and affordable homes boost

Nurses, health and education staff and other future workers at the new Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct will have access to a $100 million social and affordable housing complex. Foundation Housing and developer Hesperia are seeking development approval for the 24-storey housing project, along with a 13-floor commercial development at the site. It is believed to be Perth’s first social housing project for workers from a specific location. The plans include 216 build-to-rent homes — featuring 151 affordable housing units and 65 social housing units — on the corner of Barry Marshall Parade and Fiona Wood Road. Completion of the residential aspect is due by late 2026. Foundation Housing, which already provides 2000 homes in WA as the State’s biggest community housing provider, is seeking partial Federal funding support under the Housing Australia Future Fund. Chief executive Chris Smith said it was a significant boost to the low supply of community housing in the area. “At the current time, affordable and social housing in the Murdoch area is limited, however the local workforce will grow significantly from 2024 onwards, meaning more demand for affordable housing,” he said. “We are very pleased this project will make a real contribution to providing new housing to people who have been struggling to find appropriate accommodation in Perth. “This project is the largest undertaken by Foundation Housing and will help underpin future developments in the metropolitan area that will provide more accommodation for key workers and people on the social housing list. “Foundation Housing looks forward to delivering this significant social and affordable housing project in partnership with Hesperia, an organisation with a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects.” Hesperia will be the development manager for the Foundation Housing project on Lot 121, and it will build its own commercial building on the adjoining Lot 120. Hesperia managing director Ben Lisle said there was a significant need for social and affordable housing in WA “now and into the future”. “Having a number of active projects within the MHKP, we are keenly aware of the importance to be able to accommodate key workers for the health and education sectors close to their places of work,” Mr Lisle said. The two buildings will share a five-level podium, which provides ground floor commercial, retail and office spaces and significant parking capacity for the occupants of both buildings, visitors and the public. Foundation Housing’s Lot 121, which covers 2335sqm, will have 780sqm of ground floor retail space, alongside the residential complex. The site will include 174 residential car bays and 20 public parking spots. Lot 120, covering 2370sqm, is controlled by Hesperia and will include 13,405sqm of commercial tenancy space and 326 parking bays. Both buildings were designed by architecture firm Hassell. Depending on the timing of approvals, the affordable and social housing is scheduled to be completed by late 2026, with the completion date for the commercial building above the podium still to be determined.