A 31-STOREY student accommodation tower has been approved for Wellington Street, with an opening date coinciding with plans to move Edith Cowan University’s campus to the CBD in 2026.

With a gym, cinema and podcast rooms on the first floor podium and a sky lounge, terrace and games rooms on the rooftop, the flats will have beds for 858 students.

They will be managed by Australia’s largest student accommodation operator UniLodge, with executive chairman Peter Bates telling the decision-makers on the JDAP panel the development will re-activate an under-utilised vacant lot and complement the new Switch students digs across the road.

• Students living in the proposed apartment tower will get a gym, cafe, cinema and podcast rooms.

Wellington

“Wellington Street west of King Street is lacking streetscape activism, impacted by a largely transient workforce,” Mr Bates said.

“The Switch development has already seen a significant increase in streetscape activation outside of traditional working hours.”

Describing the Wellington Street precinct as a fast-emerging “educational hub”, Mr Bates said more students living in the area would improve safety and comfort.

“The new Edith Cowan campus relocation to Yagan Square will drive demand to the CBD for international and domestic students.

“We understand Edith Cowan will not be replacing any of the decommissioned accommodation from the Mt Lawley campus and therefore will create a structural undersupply of purpose-built accommodation, even before consideration of the additional enrolment a new campus will attract.”

The development was also supported by Study Perth CEO Derryn Belford: “Having seen significant investment in both Perth Arena and the CityLink buildings, the area west of King Street is still a very quiet part of the CBD,” Mr Belford said.

“Student accommodation in this location will make it both a neighbourhood and a destination, and I’m sure will attract future investment as foot traffic and out-of-hours activities increase.”

by STEVE GRANT