Paul Blackburne says his 16-storey The Grove Residences in Claremont helps address Perth’s housing crisis by freeing up 1000 bedrooms.

About 500 residents have begun moving into their apartments in the Stirling Highway and Airlie Street complex, which dominates the Peppermint Grove and Cottesloe skyline.

Views from the top floor stretch across leafy Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove streets to Rottnest and down to  Fremantle.

The other side follows the length of the Swan River to the Perth city skyline.

“There’s our One Subiaco building,” Mr Blackburne said while standing on the level 16 balcony.

There are 230 flats across three buildings which surround a public park, resort style pool area and restaurant.

Mr Blackburne said the $375million project was an “overwhelming success” that addressed Perth’s housing supply issues.

By adding 230 residences to the housing market, The Grove will effectively free up around 1000 bedrooms  cross the city, he said. Around 87% of people moving in had been living in a 5km radius, he said, and many were only using one bedroom of family-sized homes.

He said most of the apartments sold within the first couple of years to an average age group of 55 to 75-year-olds.

There are 500 carparking bays underneath the site.

Mr Blackburne shut down a suggestion he should contribute to building a tunnel under Stirling Highway to help people cross to Cottesloe and the train stations.

“Unless they paid a toll, you wouldn’t get a return on investment,” he said.

Building the tower project started in 2021.

Prices averaged $2million, with an average of $3000 a quarter strata fees across the two 16 and 12 storey  towers.

A derelict 11-storey building was knocked down to build them.