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International students flock to WA, new student housing proposed for UWA

International students flock to WA, new student housing proposed for UWA

A new $30 million student housing project could soon be underway in Perth’s western suburbs as the number of international students at Western Australian universities continues to rise.

The development application for the Crawley Building, near the University of Western Australia, has been received by the Western Australian Planning Commission and is open for public comment until August 19.

An impression of the proposed building.

An impression of the proposed building.

The nine-storey complex includes 199 one-bedroom studios, communal lounge areas on each floor, a gym, a multi-functional wellness area, an outdoor terrace, a swimming pool and 17 parking spaces.

If approved, the plan will provide additional housing options for students, particularly regional and international students, in an area close to public transport, amenities and Perth city centre.

More student housing has become more important than ever in recent years, as the city’s housing shortage increases and the number of international students rises.

“Combined with the strategic importance of UWA, this location warrants a greater scale of development density to support a growing population and demand for residential and student accommodation,” the development application states.

“The introduction of new private student housing options reduces the demand from existing students for traditional housing options such as individual houses or group homes.

“This development provides dedicated student housing, allowing other housing to be used to support the housing of the growing population or for redevelopment.”

According to data from the Real Estate Institute of WA, the vacancy rate for rental properties in Perth was just 0.5 percent in June.