Work under way on 30-storey social and affordable rental tower on Perth's Roe Street

Work is now under way on a 30-storey rental tower on Roe Street in the Perth CBD that will provide 174 social and affordable homes in the heart of the city. ICON Construction is building the tower, Perth architecture firm MJA Studio designed it, and completion is due in 2029.

The project sits within Perth City Link, the precinct that reconnects the CBD with Northbridge, and is a short walk from Perth Station, City West Station and the Perth Busport. The WA Government is delivering it with support from the Australian Government's Housing Australia Future Fund. DevelopmentWA is leading the project, which is one of 14 build-to-rent developments it is delivering for the State Government.

Project at a glance

What is being built

The tower will hold 174 one- and two-bedroom apartments: 139 affordable rentals and 35 social homes. The whole building is designed as build-to-rent, meaning it is held as a single rental property and managed by one operator rather than sold off as individual units. Once construction finishes, the State will sell the building to a community housing provider, which will run it.

MJA Studio's design takes its inspiration from Roe Street's Art Deco heritage.

The DevelopmentWA Board approved the development application on 29 April 2026, on the recommendation of the Central Perth Redevelopment Committee. When the approval was announced in May, the State said construction would take about two and a half years.

Built to be cheaper to live in

The tower is designed for an average 8-star rating under NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, which scores homes out of 10 stars on how much heating and cooling they need. The sustainability features listed by the State include:

• a high-performance insulated facade
• natural cross-ventilation through the apartments
• improved winter sun access
• all-electric services, with no gas connection
• passive design to cut energy use and living costs.

The apartments will also meet at least the Silver level of the Livable Housing Design standard, which builds in features such as step-free entries and wider doorways so homes suit people of different ages and abilities.

ICON's Perth build-to-rent work

ICON Construction was named as the Roe Street builder in August 2025, when the State announced the contractors for 14 build-to-rent developments across Perth. ICON is also building at Pier Street in East Perth, a separate 29-storey build-to-rent tower with 219 apartments, including social and affordable rental homes.

Part of a bigger rental pipeline

Roe Street is one of 21 build-to-rent developments now under construction across Western Australia. The State says it brings the number of build-to-rent homes under construction to 1,500, and that it is backing more than 40 build-to-rent projects in all.

Perth City Link itself is a 13.5-hectare redevelopment that, once complete, is expected to deliver around 1,650 apartments for a residential population of about 3,000 people, alongside office and retail space, student accommodation and the Yagan Square precinct. Construction of a 19-storey student building near ECU's City Campus is already under way nearby.

Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the homes were well located close to jobs, transport and essential services, and that the State's build-to-rent projects would give the rental market a significant boost as they are completed over the next few years. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti said tenants would have reliable, affordable rentals close to public transport.

What's next

ICON's crews will build the tower over the next few years, with completion due in 2029. The building will then pass to a community housing provider to manage the 174 homes.

Published 2 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026