ECU Mount Lawley Redevelopment Master Plan Finalised
The Cook Government has officially finalised the ECU Mount Lawley Redevelopment Master Plan, setting out a long-term vision to transform the former Edith Cowan University campus into a connected, sustainable inner-city neighbourhood.
Located just five kilometres from the Perth CBD, the site will be reshaped into a vibrant urban community featuring up to 1,100 new homes across a mix of terrace houses, townhouses, grouped homes and apartments. The master plan also prioritises walkability and accessibility, with safe transport networks for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users and vehicles woven throughout.
Public open space, green corridors and local retail are central to the blueprint, positioning the redevelopment as a new urban village for one of Perth’s most sought-after suburbs.
What Can We Expect From The New Mount Lawley Urban Community?
At its core, the redevelopment is about diversity — in housing, lifestyle and public space.
Up to 1,100 new homes will be delivered, offering a range of housing typologies designed to suit different household types, from young professionals and downsizers to families wanting to stay close to the CBD. Importantly, the plan avoids a one-size-fits-all approach, instead blending terrace homes, townhouses, grouped dwellings and apartments across the site.
More than 15 per cent of the precinct will be dedicated to public open space. Mature trees will be retained where possible, with new plantings strengthening the urban canopy and establishing green corridors that connect to surrounding parklands. The result is intended to be a neighbourhood that balances increased density with generous open space — walkable, leafy and community-oriented.
What Is The Creative Industries Hub?
Culture and creativity will remain central to the site’s identity. Key buildings associated with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts will be retained and upgraded, including the existing library and administration buildings. These spaces are earmarked for ongoing arts, cultural, youth and education uses, preserving the site’s long-standing creative legacy.
An additional Creative Industries Hub forms part of the vision, providing space for performance, rehearsal and production, alongside offices for not-for-profits, commercial creative businesses and emerging artists. The hub is designed to support collaboration and strengthen Western Australia’s creative economy.
There is also potential for partnerships with nearby Mount Lawley Senior High School, expanding access to facilities and supporting students in its Specialist Visual and Performing Arts Program.
Beyond arts and housing, the master plan identifies a site for a new urban primary school, with the Department of Education to lead planning and design — a move that signals the area’s long-term role as a family-friendly neighbourhood.
What’s Next: Timeline And Community Feedback
The finalised master plan follows extensive community consultation, with feedback helping to refine the balance between housing density, green space and heritage retention.
With the vision now locked in, the project will move into staged implementation. Detailed design, subdivision planning and future development approvals will follow, with delivery expected to occur progressively over several years rather than all at once.
As redevelopment progresses, further consultation and planning milestones are likely, particularly around the Creative Industries Hub and education facilities. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. While construction timelines have not yet been formally confirmed, the finalisation of the master plan marks a significant step toward reshaping one of Mount Lawley’s most prominent sites into a new inner-city village.