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The first development on William Street under new council guidelines is set to be heard by state planning officials, but locals living in nearby heritage homes fear it is the beginning of the end for their humble precinct.
An eight-storey mixed-use proposal will be heard by the Joint Inner Metro Development Assessment Panel on Thursday and marks the first application under the City of Vincent’s new William Street Planning Framework.
Despite the WSPF permitting only six storeys for the location, building owner Skypacts Property Resources has requested an extra two storeys in height in exchange for “community benefit”.
The $10 million proposal is set to be built at 441 William Street in Perth on a currently vacant block of land that abuts the Perth Mosque.
It includes six one-bedroom apartments and three three-bedroom apartments, office spaces up to the fourth floor and a rooftop terrace.
Nine residential parking bays will be provided and 12 commercial spots.
According to the proposal, the community benefit provided for the additional height space will be the conversion of car bays within the adjacent William Street road reserve into streetscape upgrades.
Robert Piper, who lives in the Brookman and Moir state registered heritage precinct 60 metres away from the development said he was concerned this proposal would kick off a string of more applications around his home.
The heritage precinct was built in the 1890s as part of the gold rush. It is one of the last – and biggest – preserved residential heritage areas in Perth.
“This area is a relic, not just in terms of the fabric, but in terms of this is actually a gold rush era suburb, and most of those haven’t survived,” he said.
“Our position is not anti-development because we’d love to see City Toyota gone … but not 20 storeys high. If you looked at the architecture here, you could do something amazing.”
Piper said he was concerned the William Street Planning Framework, which was approved in 2025, would see highrise developments “fishbowl” the heritage precinct.
“All anyone needs to do is just come and stand here and look up and say would 20 storeys make sense there? But no one’s done that,” he said.
He believes the City of Vincent has failed to consider the heritage house owners when considering the WSPF.
“We haven’t got anyone championing this and saying, ‘Hang on, yeah, these guys need help’. It’s being left to residents to investigate, make freedom of information requests and get legal advice,” he said.
“Once this is done, you can’t undo it. The Heritage Act talks about the precautionary principle: don’t do something if you can’t undo it. If you’re not sure, stop, take a pause.
“It’ll be like being in a fishbowl here. We’re at the bottom, the low point here in the landscape, at the bottom of the lake. We’re going to be surrounded by this stuff.
Mohammed Illias from the Perth Mosque said his community wass concerned the William Street development would overshadow the mosque.
“It includes a commercial frontage on Brisbane Place which has always been residential and will increase traffic in this narrow street. It often becomes congested, particularly on a Friday when we regularly have hundreds of attendees at Mosque,” he said.
“We are also worried about future high-rise development in the rest of William Street and have much sympathy for local residents who will be greatly affected by it.
“This mosque and the local community have lived side-by-side for over 120 years. We value and respect the relationship we have with our neighbours and are sympathetic to their plight. It does not seem that the City of Vincent is listening to the local community or taking their concerns seriously.”
Brookman and Moir heritage precinct resident Judith Pugh said she believes it’s imperative that the city protects what few pockets of residential history remain in Perth.
“If the Northbridge tunnel builders were unable to prevent damage to our homes, it seems inconceivable that eight, 12 and 20 storey developments adjacent to the precinct will leave it unscathed,” she said.
The WSPF covers land between Bulwer Street, Lindsay Street and Baker Avenue, Newcastle Street and Lake Street, and allows the possibility for buildings to soar well above current heights.
Under the plans, the City Toyota building on Newcastle Street could jump from eight to 20 storeys, while the William Street car park could rise to 12.
City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said William Street continued to evolve because it was one of the most well-connected areas of the City.
“Vincent is required to plan for 11,490 new dwellings by 2050. State planning policy and our Local Planning Strategy directs more growth to inner-city locations like William Street. Our William Street Planning Framework supports this approach by guiding where and how future development should occur,” she said.
“Change is already happening in William Street, as it is in many inner-city areas. Our role is to make sure that change is managed carefully, with development that is well-designed, respects nearby homes and heritage and contributes positively to the area.”
Xamon said William Street had been identified for growth for many years with the District Centre zoning for the area introduced through the City’s Local Planning Scheme in 2018.
“People want to know that new development won’t overwhelm the homes next door and that’s completely understandable. That’s why the framework includes clear guidance to make sure buildings are lower where they meet residential streets, with the taller parts set further back,” she said.
She said the framework, however, wouldn’t allow 20-storey buildings along William Street.
“That height is only identified as a potential for one site that is large enough to accommodate it in a way that won’t feel imposing to neighbouring properties. Any proposal would still need to go through the development assessment process,” she said.
The JDAP will vote on the proposal on Thursday morning.
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