The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
Untitled design (8)
TUD CELEBRATES QLD STATE OF ORIGIN VICTORY 2-FOR-1 URBANITY TICKET DEAL - BUY TODAY
CELEBRATING QLD STATE OF ORIGIN VICTORY 2-FOR-1 URBANITY TICKET DEAL
GET DISCOUNTDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
OtherStaff WriterTue 21 Feb 17

Perth's 80 Square Metre 'Micro Lots'

iStock-522320606_620x380

Western Australia's first “micro lots” are on the housing market, as Perth block sizes start shrinking to suit smaller budgets and changing lifestyles.


The 80 square metre blocks in Ellenbrook are the smallest green title lots in WA.

The lots, about one-fifth the size of Perth’s median lot size of 410 square metres, are marketed as an affordable house and land package to people trying to break into the property market or home owners who want to downsize.

The idea originated from developer LWP Property, who in 2015 proposed to reduce the minimum lot size from 120 square metres to 80 square metres in Ellenbrook's town centre.

According to PerthNow, the Urban Development Institute of Australia figures reveal the average block price last year was $233,880, and Perth landbuyers are paying more per square metre, forking out $616 per square metre last year compared to $455 in 2009.

Some ABC Radio Perth listeners were very keen on the idea of scaling back their living space, after submitting the following comments:

"You don't need much space to grow your veggies and parks can be used as outdoors space. This seems like a great idea. It might get people more involved in their communities if they can't fit a three-metre big screen in their house."

"The idea is becoming more and more appealing as I look around at all the 'stuff' we have and use only such a small proportion of."

"Not everyone wants a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-garage, media room and everything else. Builders need to look beyond this."

"No way. People need space. Children need areas to run free and teenagers and young adults need their own areas. We live in this wide brown land so let us enjoy it."

"Tiny house? Yes. On a tiny block? No. You need some outdoor space to compensate for the tight living quarters."

"I worry about privacy and noise issues living so close [together]."

LWP Ellenbrook town centre Project Panager Megan Buckland said the lots would appeal to smaller households that did not need a backyard and wanted an urban lifestyle.

“First-home buyers make up around 40 per cent of purchasers in Ellenbrook and downsizers around 15 per cent, so we expect strong demand from these homebuyers,” she said.

The ABC said the micro-block concept could be a boon for people who want to downsize but dislike the idea of apartment living and shared spaces.

"Some people don't want to move into an apartment or a unit development with strata fees and common or shared spaces," UDIA WA Chief Executive Allison Hailes told the ABC.

They said research by Curtin University's Department of Urban and Regional Planning found that while people accept the idea that Perth needs high-density housing, many dislike the idea of living in apartments. They also found that people wanted to keep to themselves and had an aversion to the prospect of unexpectedly running into neighbours in the corridor, garden or other common areas.

ResidentialAustraliaPerthConstructionPlanningArchitecturePolicyPlanningPolicy
AUTHOR
Staff Writer
"TheUrbanDeveloper.com is committed to delivering the latest news, reviews, opinions and insights into the best of urban development from Australia and around the world. "
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
Genton Architects' rendering of the East Village Sunbury project by Birchmore and IDA on Lancefield Road in Sunbury, Victoria.
Retail

Retail Centre Moves Ahead as Sunbury Prepares for Growth

Marisa Wikramanayake
Bridgewater Gagebrook Brighton Derwent River from Granton
Planning

Scheme to Unlock 362 Lots in Tasmania Revealed

Leon Della Bosca
Maroochydore Habitat The Millwell render hero
Residential

Midrise Project Breaks Ground as Sunshine Coast Ramps Up

Phil Bartsch
The $243-million mixed-use development will comprise 205 apartments across two buildings rising up to nine storeys...
LATEST
Genton Architects' rendering of the East Village Sunbury project by Birchmore and IDA on Lancefield Road in Sunbury, Victoria.
Retail

Retail Centre Moves Ahead as Sunbury Prepares for Growth

Marisa Wikramanayake
2 Min
Bridgewater Gagebrook Brighton Derwent River from Granton
Planning

Scheme to Unlock 362 Lots in Tasmania Revealed

Leon Della Bosca
3 Min
Maroochydore Habitat The Millwell render hero
Residential

Midrise Project Breaks Ground as Sunshine Coast Ramps Up

Phil Bartsch
3 Min
Freecity Rouse Hill triple towers 2 Tempus Street
Exclusive

Freecity Takes Covers Off $330m Triple Towers in Sydney’s North-West

Leon Della Bosca
5 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/perth-prepares-introduce-micro-lots
SHARE
print
Print
TOP STORIES
Freecity Rouse Hill triple towers 2 Tempus Street
Exclusive

Freecity Takes Covers Off $330m Triple Towers in Sydney’s North-West

Leon Della Bosca
5 Min
Parallel Workshops Stockdale Housing PBSA project
Exclusive

Suburban Success Story Turns PBSA Thinking on its Head

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Exclusive

Interstate Developers Find Lots to Love in ‘Progressive, Affordable’ SA

Taryn Paris
5 Min
Bates Smart Richmond Sportslink HERO
Exclusive

BtR Focus Drives Bates Smart’s Richmond Sportslink Concept

Leon Della Bosca
6 Min
Exclusive

Carparking Correlation: How Parking Fees Provide Office Sector Health Check

Taryn Paris
6 Min
View All >