Perth builders and subcontractors working the inner-west should pay attention to what’s happening in the Town of Cambridge right now. The council has drafted a new Local Planning Scheme (LPS 2) that, once gazetted, will set the rules governing what gets built across Wembley, West Leederville, City Beach, and Floreat for years to come.

Draft LPS 2 went out for public comment in October 2025, replacing LPS 1 as the primary statutory planning document. The Town first resolved to prepare a new scheme back in 2008, so this has been a long time coming. The centrepiece change is a height bonus in West Leederville: developers who cede both a new laneway and a plaza, as identified in the West Leederville Precinct Structure Plan, can unlock up to six additional storeys and a 50 per cent increase in plot ratio, at the Town’s discretion.

That density lift is exactly what drives demand for concreters, scaffolders, glaziers, and fit-out trades. The path from draft scheme to approved project isn’t smooth right now, though. Community submissions have flagged concerns about a proposed 17-storey building at the Wembley Food Hall site, high-rise density along Cambridge Street, traffic, and whether existing infrastructure can handle the load. The Wembley West Leederville Ratepayers Association raised these concerns formally, including pointing to the State’s override powers as a source of tension.

That tension isn’t theoretical. On 7 May 2025, a high-rise development was approved through the State Significant Development Pathway despite the Town of Cambridge opposing it. The council argued the project didn’t comply with either LPS 1 or draft LPS 2, citing excessive height, bulk, inadequate setbacks, and parking concerns. The State approved it anyway. The EPA Western Australia has also been involved in the LPS 2 referral process, confirming the scheme is moving through formal assessment channels.

For trades working or tendering in Perth’s inner-west, the picture is clear enough: medium-to-high-density residential and mixed-use projects are being planned across the Cambridge corridor, and the draft rules are designed to encourage them. The height bonuses in LPS 2 suggest developers are already eyeing sites. Timing is less certain. Community opposition is organised, the State’s override powers add unpredictability, and LPS 2 still needs to be gazetted before it carries full legal force.

Subcontractors in Wembley or West Leederville should watch for when LPS 2 is finalised. That’s the milestone that locks in the rules and, with them, the scale of what’s coming.

Frequently asked questions

What is the height bonus in the Town of Cambridge’s draft LPS 2?

Under draft LPS 2, developers in West Leederville who dedicate a new laneway and plaza, as identified in the West Leederville Precinct Structure Plan, can unlock up to six additional storeys and a 50 per cent increase in plot ratio, at the Town’s discretion.

Does the Town of Cambridge have the final say on high-rise approvals in the area?

Not necessarily. On 7 May 2025, a high-rise development was approved through the State Significant Development Pathway despite the Town of Cambridge opposing it, showing the State can override local council objections.

When does draft LPS 2 take legal effect?

Draft LPS 2 went out for public comment in October 2025 but must be gazetted before it carries full legal force. The Town originally resolved to prepare a new scheme in 2008.

Sourced from Town of Cambridge, EPA Western Australia, Wembley West Leederville Ratepayers Association, WA Parliament. Original article.