Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advises Foundation Housing on 213 social and affordable homes in Perth's Murdoch Precinct

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) has advised Foundation Housing, one of Western Australia's (WA) largest community housing providers, on the construction, financing and development of 213 social and affordable apartments within the Murdoch Health and Knowledge Precinct in Perth, Western Australia. 

The project, known as Rise@Murdoch, has commenced construction this month and includes 65 social homes, 148 affordable rental homes, as well as office spaces, located near Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch University and public transport. 

Foundation Housing was awarded $280 million under the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) last year to support the delivery of social and affordable dwellings at four sites in WA including Perth, East Perth, Como and Murdoch. 

Rise@Murdoch was supported by a $46.2 million grant from WA's State Government and almost $165 million in Federal funding. The project is being delivered in partnership with Human Urban, alongside leading industry partners including ABN Group, PACT Construction and Plenary Group.

The HSF Kramer team advising on the matter was led by Projects Partner and Global Co-Head of Infrastructure, Nicholas Carney and Finance Partner, Lucy McCullagh, with support from senior associates Alyce Rae and Nabila Prata Dos Santos. 

HSF Kramer Projects Partner, Nicholas Carney said, "The Rise@Murdoch development is the first of four sites to commence construction, a significant achievement for Foundation Housing and the Perth community. It will provide Perth residents with greater access to more affordable and high-quality housing close to work, education and essential services. 

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with Foundation Housing on the project, as well as the three other Perth sites." 

Finance Partner Lucy McCullagh, said, "The commencement of the Rise@Murdoch development is a fantastic achievement for Foundation Housing as well as governments and industry partners, and represents a major community housing-led development for the State." 

Foundation Housing CEO Chris Smith said, "The support through partnering with HSF Kramer was a key strategic objective following the announcement of HAFFF 1. Joint alignment and clear direction enabled the positive working relationship between the various parties, ably supported by HSF Kramer to successfully facilitate the completion of financial and contract close on these important projects." 

HSF Kramer has a long history of supporting clients to deliver social and affordable housing projects. Other recent examples include advising:

• Foundation Housing on the award of $280 million in funding under Housing Australia’s Future Fund Facility to support the delivery of 396 social and affordable dwellings at four sites in Western Australia. 
• Community housing providers and other organisations in relation to applications made to Housing Australia for funding under the first funding round for the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFF).
• A consortium comprising Mission Australia Housing and Palisade Infrastructure Partners on the development and implementation of 185 new social and affordable dwellings in Toowoomba under the Queensland Housing Investment Fund.
• A consortium comprising QIC and the Brisbane Housing Company on the development and implementation of new projects under the Queensland Housing Investment Fund to deliver 600 new social and affordable homes.
• Lighthouse Infrastructure Management Limited on its investment with St George Community Housing for the delivery of key worker accommodation in Western Sydney.