New Cannington Apartments to Tackle Disability Housing Shortage
Apartments currently under construction in Cannington are designed to address the significant shortage of single-resident housing for individuals requiring high physical support. The Civic Apartments at Civic Gardens will feature 17 purpose-built dwellings exclusively for people with disabilities, responding to rising demand across Perth's south-east corridor.
Design and Features of Civic Apartments
The development will include seven two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes for single residents, eight one-bedroom apartments, and two on-site overnight accommodation units for support workers. Residents will enjoy large private balconies, a rooftop communal area with all-weather facilities, and scenic views of the Canning River Regional Park, the City of Canning, and the Darling Range.
Secure under-croft parking will be available for both residents and support staff. The site is conveniently located approximately 500 meters from Westfield Carousel, with easy access to nearby bus services and rail connections. Construction is expected to be completed by March.
Addressing a Structural Gap in the Market
Perry Kleppe, managing director of GR8 Disability Housing, which will manage the complex, emphasized that Civic Apartments aim to fill a structural gap in the disability housing market rather than a temporary shortage. "This is not a problem that will correct itself with time," he stated. "National Disability Insurance Scheme accommodation funding exists and participants are approved, but the market has not built the homes people need. Single-resident specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is the hardest product to find in Western Australia."
Mr. Kleppe highlighted that the two-bedroom apartments offer flexibility often lacking in disability housing. "They allow participants to choose how they live," he explained. "That could mean accommodating support services differently or sharing with someone they trust without being forced into arrangements that do not suit their lives."
Exclusive Focus on Disability Housing
Unlike many developments that allocate only a few units within larger residential complexes, Civic Apartments is an exclusively SDA project. "This is not a compliance exercise," Mr. Kleppe noted. "Every apartment has been designed for residents with disability from day one. That consistency makes a difference to how people feel about their home and how well the building works."
He also pointed out that properly designed disability housing could help alleviate pressure on the broader housing market. "Many people with disability are still living in older housing that no longer suits them," he said. "With the right supply, those properties could be returned to mainstream housing, creating movement in a market that is otherwise gridlocked."
