The Detail of the East Fremantle Social Housing Project

We recently brought you news of the significant social housing initiative on Canning Highway, East Freo, now here’s the detail and your chance to have a say!

The State Government’s Significant Development Assessment Unit (SDAU) is currently reviewing a proposed 34 unit, three storey social housing apartment building at 7 to 27 Canning Highway, East Fremantle.

City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle locals are invited to comment on the proposal.

The applicants are Foundation Housing, care of TBB Town Planning, working in tandem with a large multidisciplinary team.

The subject site was chosen through the State Government’s Housing Diversity Pipeline initiative, which “seeks to unlock the development potential of underutilised government-owned land to increase the supply of social and affordable housing in well-located urban areas.”

The land previously accommodated residential dwellings on the eastern side, and the western corner has was onceused commercially, including a former service station and hire yard.

The design entails:

• 19 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments

• Housing intended from families to couples and singles

• 21 car parking bays and vehicle access via a new crossover on East Street

• Bicycle and scooter parking• Rooftop solar panels

• Close proximity to public transport and East Fremantle Primary School

• The apartments will be managed by Community Housing Provider, Foundation Housing.

• The development is valued at $20.8 million.

The applicant Design Statement advises:

“Founded in 2006, Foundation Housing is Western Australia’s largest state-based community housing provider, managing around 2,000 homes for more than 3,500 people across Perth, Broome and the Pilbara. With a dedicated team of 70 staff, Foundation Housing deliver safe, affordable housing and support services that help tenants sustain long-term, successful tenancies.

The delivery of the project will managed by property development specialists Human Urban.

To date, the project team has provided two briefings to the elected members of East Fremantle Town Council and has held two community consultation sessions. These sessions have been well attended have been generally positive.”

The apartments are designed to provide consistent heights to those of their neighbours to the north and thus establish a gateway to Fremantle. The windows and balconies will provide passive street and interior garden surveillance, and the apartments feature cross ventilation and northern light to their living areas, while meeting Silver Level accessibility requirements. Overall, the development draws inspiration from local masonry and limestone to incorporate materiality that is robust and low maintenance.

Public Art is planned for each truncated corner to East and Glyde Streets which shall be incorporated into the building via brick detailing. The art is a plan representation of the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) pre and post colonial settlement.

Local, water sensitive endemic plant species have been chosen for landscaping which is dispersed across the 3,666m2 site (subject to future road widening).

Importantly, the development responds to the Town of East Fremantle Local Planning Strategy in which the subject site is designated ‘Planning Area E – East Street / Canning Highway South’ , which prescribes the following:

• This site is a landmark entry point;

• The site could accommodate approximately 30 new dwellings; and

• Seeks 3 storey built form, with potential for up to 5 storeys closer to the East Street / Canning Highway corner.

More details on the proposal and an opportunity to comment are available here. Comments close on 29 March 2026.

All images retrieved from the public consultation materials provided at Have Your Say DPLH

* By Gayle O’Leary. 

If you’d like to catch up on more by Gayle here on Fremantle Shipping News, look right here!

~ If you’d like to COMMENT on this or any of our stories, don’t hesitate to email our Editor.

~ WHILE YOU’RE HERE –

~ Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to receive your free copy of The Weekly Edition of the Shipping News each Friday!