Perth apartment developer Paul Blackburne has criticised the widespread clearing of trees for new residential estates, arguing that higher-density housing could help reduce urban sprawl while allowing more land to be retained for trees and green spaces.

Blackburne, whose developments include The Grove and One Subiaco, described the lack of trees in many new housing estates as a disgrace, arguing that mature trees should be treated as essential infrastructure rather than an optional feature.

He suggested that developers should be required to plant at least one substantial tree on every residential lot where existing trees have been cleared. He estimated that reasonably mature trees could be planted for between $2,000 and $4,000 each, providing shade and greenery without having to wait decades for new trees to grow.

His comments followed concerns raised by WA Tree Canopy Advocates about the lack of laws preventing developers from clearing all existing trees when establishing new housing estates.

Blackburne also questioned why apartment developments were subject to landscaping and tree-planting requirements while residential land developments were not required to retain existing mature trees.

However, land developer Nigel Satterley disagreed with Blackburne's suggestion that apartments were the answer. He argued that most homebuyers continued to prefer house-and-land packages and that smaller residential blocks, often around 313 square metres, had limited space for large trees.

Satterley said his developments generally retained mature trees in parks and along major roads, while residential streets were cleared and subsequently planted with younger trees measuring approximately 2.5 to 3 metres tall.

Planning and Lands Minister John Carey confirmed that minimum tree-planting requirements had been introduced under Western Australia's Residential Design Codes in 2021 for new single houses and grouped dwellings.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is also reviewing its Liveable Neighbourhoods policy, including possible changes to encourage the retention of existing trees and additional planting along residential streets.

Although new tree planting is required under existing planning regulations, there are currently no general State laws preventing developers from clearing all mature trees from a new residential estate. Local governments can introduce additional tree protection measures through their own planning policies.

The debate comes as Perth continues to expand, with increasing concerns about the loss of established vegetation, reduced shade and higher temperatures in newly developed suburbs.