Sirona reveals plans to bring more student beds to Perth
Sirona Urban plans to add 1,200 student beds in Perth and Fremantle following the acquisition of a development site in Kings Square and an overhaul of its Fremantle project.
The Perth-based developer will acquire 18 to 28 Telethon Avenue in Perth from Seven Group Holdings subsidiary Seven Entertainment for an undisclosed sum.
Sirona has announced plans to build an 800-bed student accommodation tower on the 3,334 square meter Kings Square site.
It has also revised its plans for the Point Street project in Fremantle from 215 flats to a 392-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project.
The moves follow the developer’s recent completion of its $150 million, 736-bed, 30-storey student accommodation project on Wellington Street in Perth.
Sirona Urban managing director Matthew McNeilly said the two new projects would help meet the growing need for student beds in Western Australia.
“Perth is facing a shortage of purpose-built student accommodation, with current supply meeting less than 10 per cent of demand according to the latest data from Urbis,” he said.
“These projects in Perth CBD and Fremantle enable us to transition seamlessly from our recently completed UniLodge Perth Central to developing our second and third premium student accommodation.”
Mr McNeilly added that the Perth project would contribute to the $5.2 billion Perth City Link development, designed to connect the Northbridge to the CBD.
Sirona Urban’s plans for Perth City Link. Image: MJA Studio
He added that the site’s location makes it ideal for both student accommodation and rental projects.
“[It] “The new ECU provides excellent connectivity to the city campus and Perth Bus Port… and is located right next to the RAC Arena and the city’s entertainment venues, making it ideal for build-to-rent housing options,” he said.
The Telethon Avenue site was approved in 2015 for a 48- and 42-storey twin tower project consisting of 563 apartments.
The property, known as KS6, was launched on the market in early 2023.
Property Council of Australia research shows Perth has the lowest proportion of PBSA beds relative to international student numbers in Australia’s major cities.
Mr McNeilly added that each international student adds about $43,000 a year to the state’s economy.
Sirona Urban also has a long history in Fremantle and was behind the $270 million FOMO office and retail precinct at Walyalup Koort.
SKS Group has received approval to build a $100 million apartment project at 8 Point Street in Fremantle in late 2023 after plans to build a hotel on the site fell through.
Sirona plans to bring 392 student beds to Point Street in Fremantle. Image: MJA Studio
Mr McNeilly said he was calling for changes to the proposal in light of changing demand.
“We have redesigned our original plans for our Point Street site to address the shortage of purpose-built student accommodation and introduce the first modern, affordable, quality PBSA facility in Fremantle,” he said.
The Fremantle project, which is estimated to cost $55 million to build, will include hot desks, fitness facilities, a cinema and shared entertainment areas, among other amenities.
MJA Studio designed both projects and development applications will be submitted next week.
The proposals come as Edith Cowan University’s Perth city campus nears completion, with 10,000 staff and students expected to arrive in Perth from early next year.
ECU’s Perth campus has led to a significant increase in the volume of student beds developers are looking to bring to the state, with more than 6,000 student beds expected to be on the way.
