Plan to accommodate 556,000 more Sandgropers by 2031 released

A new planning strategy that will set the parameters by which Perth will grow to accommodate an increase in population of 556,000 by 2031 was released by Planning Minister John Day this morning.

The draft framework, called Directions 2031, abandoned the former government's Network City planning policy.

It centres on creating a mix of activity areas with amenities, employment and education.

Like Network City, it concentrates on transport options close to dwellings, greater housing density and residential development but it has reduced the target of urban growth from 60 per cent coming from infill development, or high density dwellings, to 47 per cent.

Under the new plan, 121,000 new dwellings would be constructed.

Along with the plan, Mr Day announced the first of six sub-regional planning areas under Directions 2031 for the southern metropolitan and Peel areas.

He also announced a policy to abolish retail caps for shopping centres in a move that will allow greater investment and growth of retail areas.

Activity centres across Perth would include commercial, health, education, entertainment, cultural, recreational and commercial facilities as well as high density housing.

This means the new hubs could be similar in design to precincts like Subiaco, which moved away from big block suburban shopping centres that include vast expanses of car parking space.

The strategies have been released for public comment and the State Government hopes to finalise its plans by April 2010.