Town frustrated by SPC decision on West Leederville plan
Published on 22 December 2025
The Town of Cambridge is dissatisfied with the Statutory Planning Committee’s (SPC) decision on the West Leederville Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), made at the Committee’s meeting on 10 December 2025.
The SPC, a committee of the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), resolved under Clause 22 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 to require the Town to modify the re-advertised West Leederville PSP and resubmit it for approval.
The PSP area covers approximately 27 hectares within walking distance of both West Leederville and Leederville train stations.
The SPC has largely endorsed the advertised 2024 State-directed PSP (Version 3), incorporating only limited refinements from the Town’s 2025 adopted PSP (Version 4). Key Town proposals – including a more detailed laneway network, moderated building heights, and improved transitions to surrounding residential areas – were not supported.
Mayor Gary Mack stated that the decision ignores the detailed, evidence-based work and strong community feedback that supported the Town’s plan.
“This decision overlooks extensive local planning and design work that would have delivered growth through quality, not excess,” Mayor Mack said.
“Our plan supported density near transport through good design and human-scale transitions – exactly what our community has consistently asked for.”
Version 4 of the PSP was developed following a comprehensive technical assessment, and community consultation balanced State housing objectives with best practice urban design principles and respect for neighbourhood character context. The SPC’s decision, particularly in relation to building heights, represents a meaningful departure from the Local Planning Strategy that the WAPC approved only four years ago, which contemplated development of up to 10 storeys. Further, the decision also represented a meaningful departure from the State’s own policy on activity centres which contemplates “mid-rise buildings” in locations like West Leederville.
“Removing key laneways and allowing greater building heights will not deliver better outcomes,” Mayor Mack said.
“Laneways are essential to a walkable, fine-grain urban structure that supports small business, local amenity, and good design outcomes. We will continue to advocate for a context-sensitive, design-led plan for West Leederville.”
The Town remains committed to achieving a strategic planning outcome that meets housing targets while ensuring high-quality urban design, functional laneways, and development that fits the unique context of West Leederville.
Media contact:
Matt Lau
Senior Media & Communications Officer – Town of Cambridge
media@cambridge.wa.gov.au
(08) 9347 6059