Perth Glory’s A-League Women squad and academy are set to secure a permanent home at Wotton Reserve, with new plans to transform the site into a state-of-the-art sporting precinct featuring a 1000-seat stadium.

Bayswater council will advertise its intention to dispose of land surrounding the reserve’s soccer pitches to developer Pelligra Group, which will allow the community to have its say before councillors make their final decision.

If approved, the project would deliver a new integrated sporting facility for Perth Glory while also redeveloping the reserve into a mixed-use precinct featuring residential housing and commercial businesses.

The reserve is home to the $2.5 million Bayswater Skate Park, which opened in late 2022, the Morley Windmills Soccer Club and the Bayswater Petanque Club.

The land earmarked for redevelopment is occupied by a drainage site and ageing carpark, while the sporting fields will remain in public ownership.

The announcement doesn’t come as much of a surprise as PerthNow reported mounting speculation that Perth Glory was interested in the site last year, with alarm bells started ringing at the Morley Windmills Soccer Club and in the skating community after the council went behind closed doors at its July 1 meeting to discuss the future of the reserve.

Neither the city or Perth Glory confirmed speculation at the time.

Under the proposal, the city would retain ownership of the existing soccer pitches, which would remain open space and continue to be used by community clubs, when not required by Perth Glory.

City of Bayswater mayor Filomena Piffaretti said she was excited about the proposal presented.

“The delivery of a brand-new integrated sports facility that accommodates current users of the site, retains the much-loved Bayswater Skate Park and enables the city to retain ownership of public pitches is an excellent opportunity for our community,” she said.

“We are really excited about the benefits this proposal offers and I am keen to hear what our community thinks before council makes its final decision.

“The redevelopment of Wotton Reserve into a high-quality, mixed-use development, boasting residential, commercial and sporting uses could benefit our community in many ways.

“New businesses and residential accommodation would activate the area, breathing new life into the location.

“The construction of a new 1000-seat stadium and replacement of ageing infrastructure would be a win for both fans and community clubs, with playing fields remaining available for the community when not in use by Perth Glory.

“Wotton Reserve is perfectly positioned next to the newly constructed Morley train station, which would make it easy for fans to attend Perth Glory games.

“This development would capitalise on the State Government’s investment in Metronet through its construction of Morley train station.”

The proposal also includes 208 apartments, with Ms Piffaretti saying the redevelopment would help address Perth’s housing shortage.

“Redevelopment of Wotton Reserve would be consistent with the city’s ongoing support of the State Government’s plan to increase density around train stations,” she said.

“The proposal would be a catalyst for future growth in the area and deliver critical housing supply to the area.”