Revived 156-Apartment South Perth Project Greenlit

A two-tower scheme at South Perth that rose from the ashes of a pandemic-era project have been approved. 

Blueways Group’s 12-level plans for a site at 42, 44 and 46 Leonora Street, Como, has this month been greenlit by the Development Assessment Panel.

The 156-apartment project was filed in November of 2024, meaning it has been assessed and approved in six months—a timeframe that would be the envy of developers on the east coast. 

The Embrace Architects-designed scheme will comprise a mix of apartment types, from studios to three bedrooms.

Blueways in its original development application said that the proposal sought to “capitalise on the excellent location of the subject site in close proximity to major regional transport infrastructure”.

The panel was initially resolved to refuse the project, but an alternative motion to approve the project with design, parking, waste management and other conditions was successful.

The 3617sq m site was cleared in 2021 for another Blueways proposal, but it was interrupted and subsequently discontinued during Covid-19. 

▲ A rendering of the Embrace-designed project approved for Como.

The approved project, Henley Rise, is the latest iteration of that previous proposal of 111 units that faced “significant” challenges, such as construction material price increases and labour availability. 

The development application explained that escalations of more than 40 per cent of the agreed construction price. had meant the previous project was “no longer financially feasible”. 

Blueways cancelled the pre-sales contracts and refunded deposits to off-the-plan buyers.

The developer then put forward the new scheme that responded “to current market conditions and purchaser demand”.

The site is in the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan area. The project will contribute to that plan’s aim to increase density and diversity of housing in the area to improve land efficiency and housing variety.