The WA Government is developing a state pattern book with a view to cutting red tape and accelerating the delivery of housing in established suburbs.
The new initiative is funded as part of a record $4.7 billion investment to boost housing supply and affordability in the 2026-27 State Budget.
Supported by a $2 million investment over two years, the pattern book will develop a library of high-quality, ready-to-use home designs suited to medium-density infill projects, said Treasurer, Rita Saffioti.
She said the designs will be pre-assessed, speeding up planning approvals for developers and builders while reducing the time typically required to prepare designs from scratch. Â
“We want more Western Australians to own their own home which is why we are investing in innovative construction methods to deliver more housing choice right across our suburbs.”
“This pattern book will provide ready-to-use, pre-assessed designs that will make it easier and cheaper for industry to build quality homes for Western Australians.
“It will help deliver more homes around our METRONET stations, delivering on our vision to create well-connected communities close to public transport, jobs and services.
“The Cook Labor Government know parents and grandparents are worried about their children being able to afford a home of their own and initiatives like these will help drive supply and improve affordability,” the Treasurer said.
The pattern book will include designs suited to common urban infill lot sizes, with a focus on a variety of medium density housing types such as townhouses.
All designs included in the pattern book will also meet standards for energy efficiency, universal access and climate-resilient construction.
Led by the Government Architect Western Australia, the initiative is part of a broad range of initiatives to encourage residential development in well-connected locations, including near METRONET station precincts.
The pattern book model has been successfully implemented elsewhere in Australia, including in NSW.
“The 2026-27 State Budget includes record investments to build thousands of homes, unlock tens of thousands of lots and support first home buyers and renters,” said Planning and Lands Minister, John Carey.
“The development of a pattern book will further enable us to get housing out the door faster, especially for much-needed medium density projects.”
