Pathway for WA builders to boost and build new social housing

• Western Australian builders of all sizes invited to lodge submissions to deliver social housing
• Revamped Call for Submissions for new builders to assist the Cook Government deliver its target of 4,000 social homes
• Seeking to deliver sustainable apartment and grouped dwelling developments for social housing
• Value for money, innovation and sustainability highly regarded

The Cook Government is calling for expressions of interest from builders and developers of all sizes to bolster the supply of housing and build new social housing throughout Western Australia.

The updated Call for Submissions (CFS) for Social Housing invites submissions from the housing sector to deliver social housing in Perth or regional WA, with a priority on the delivery of apartment or grouped dwelling developments.

The Cook Government is investing a record $2.6 billion in social housing and homelessness measures in WA, including delivering around 4,000 social dwellings, and refurbishments and maintenance work to many thousands more.

With the formation of a number of State Government building panels, 25 new, small and medium family builders were contracted to deliver new social housing in the 2022-2023 financial year. Nearly 100 small and medium builders have since been appointed to the State-wide builders panel and are now pre-approved to deliver new social housing.

Current advice from the housing construction industry is that the market is showing signs of tapering and therefore the State Government will aim to re-open the State-wide builders panel on an annual basis to create a pipeline of work for the housing construction industry.

According to a recent CoreLogic Cordell Construction Cost Index, which tracks the cost to build a typical new home,after two years of cost escalations in the building industry, the latest quarterly growth rate index was 0.7 per cent at June 2023, the lowest rate since September 2020 across the country.

Importantly, according to CoreLogic, WA's increase in cost escalations was the lowest at 0.5 per cent – signalling the construction market was beginning to show signs of tapering.

Submissions under the CFS that have development approval and are builder ready to go will be highly regarded.

The Department of Communities expects to issue further calls for submission in the second half of 2023, seeking partnerships with community housing providers and local governments.

The Cook Government has established a number of alternative and flexible housing reform programs to bolster the supply of social housing across Western Australia, including:

• a State-wide small and medium builders panel which includes nearly 100 builders across the State that are pre-approved for Government work to further accelerate social housing delivery;
• utilising alternative construction methods including timber frame and modular builds;
• boosting the State's highly successful spot purchasing program; and
• converting surplus Government Regional Officer Housing stock to social housing.

For more information visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/department-of-communities-housing-business-opportunities

Comments attributed to Housing Minister John Carey:

"The Cook Government's 'Call for Submissions' procurement process is part of several reforms we're undertaking to strengthen and accelerate the delivery of social housing across Western Australia.

"I encourage the housing sector across the State to register their interest for this opportunity.

"This CFS supports a number of significant housing delivery reforms already implemented by the Cook Government to help boost the supply of social housing throughout Western Australia.

"Since our record $2.6 billion investment in social housing and homelessness measures, our Government has added more than 1,300 social homes with a further 1,100 social homes under contract or construction.

"Our message is clear - we're using every lever we can, to bolster the supply of social housing across Western Australia."