MIDLAND’S long-standing New Junction town centre precinct is making slow progress despite some recent upgrades, including roadworks on Grandstand Way and new utility and communications services on Morrison Road.

Plans for the precinct were first approved in 2018 for a series of high-quality parks, open spaces, community facilities and new living and business opportunities.

But with stage one of New Junction only just completed after eight years, there are questions about the precinct’s long-term progress.

Stage one incorporates the eight-storey Catalyst apartment building, Junction Parade and upgrades to Midland’s Weeip Park.

Local real estate agent and Darlington resident Cambell Giles expressed concern about how long it is taking to complete the necessary roads and other infrastructure to support the new development.

“I am concerned about the lack of follow through regarding the road infrastructure which I believe is holding up commercial and residential development at New Junction,” Mr Giles said.

“For example, while two roads to the north have been built for the development, there appears to be nothing similar completed to the south.

“How are developers supposed to have confidence in investing in the project in the future when the roads, footpaths and carparks they need are just not there?

“When the Midland Railway Workshops’ redevelopment was built there appeared to be no problem.

“If you build the roads they will come, but I am just not seeing that with New Junction at the moment.”

To illustrate this, Mr Giles raised the issue of Verde Lane which is planned to link Junction Parade to The Crescent.

He said this was still incomplete more than two years after being put forward by the City of Swan.

Mr Giles also queried the promised Cale Street extension into the Midland Oval.

“That house and land was demolished and a car park resumed over 20 years ago for the extension into the oval but again very little appears to have been done,” he said.

Stage two of New Junction is planned as a mixed-use urban precinct incorporating residential, commercial, retail, office and community uses rather than focusing on a single land use.

To complete this stage the City of Swan is working with several private stakeholders including Providence Lifestyle, who are considering the development of an 11-storey, over 55s ‘vertical’ lifestyle village with about 207 apartments on lot 811.

An 18-month option for the purchase of lot 811 opposite the current Catalyst building was approved by council in June 2025.

Providence Lifestyle managing director John Woods said while it was possible the lot could fall into the Providence portfolio it was a new innovation with a very different and more capital intense business model.

He said if it went ahead the project would be the first of its kind in Australia and developed under a new brand Xenium Vertical Living.

“I am doing this first vertical project outside of Providence to test the market and confirm that it is bankable,” Mr Woods said.

“I will still be focused on building something really special for people without kids in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

“Xenium will be for people who would prefer to live in the heart of thriving places and be able to walk to every amenity.”

He said his aim was to deliver the same experience and sense of belonging he had spent the last 25 years delivering into horizontal developments.

“As to whether it will progress and when – this will depend on the feedback I get from the market as to whether it hits the sweet spot for enough people.

“If it does I expect the entire project could be completed within three to three-and-a-half years.”

When questioned about the height of the vertical village, City of Swan chief executive officer Stephen Cain said the adopted planning framework generally provided for buildings ranging from three to 10 storeys, with selected landmark sites accommodating greater height where appropriate.

“More broadly, the council-endorsed Midland Oval redevelopment precinct business plan, which underwent extensive public consultation, identifies long-term performance targets across the wider precinct of 750 to 1000 new dwellings, about 23,000sqm of retail floorspace, 12,200sqm of restaurant and hospitality space and about 75,000sqm of office accommodation.

In response to questions about the projected cost of stage two, Mr Cain said that like many major developments across Australia, construction and infrastructure costs had increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Industry estimates indicate increases of around 40 per cent across many civil and building construction activities,” he said.

“Project costs continue to be reviewed and updated as works progress.”

In terms of completion, Mr Cain said the city’s current long term financial plan provided for the remaining major civil infrastructure works to be completed during the 2029/30 financial year, noting this program was reviewed annually by council as part of the budget process.

He said the timing of individual buildings would ultimately depend on the delivery schedules of the private developers.

Providence Lifestyle will hold a community engagement presentation on the vertical village proposal at Midland’s Crooked Spire cafe in September.

For more information contact Providence Lifestyle at www.providencelifestyle.com.au/