Northern Irish developer Lotus Property has today revealed plans for a £20m aparthotel on the site of an old HMRC office in Belfast.
The Well, on Belfast’s Wellington Place, was acquired by Lotus Property in 2020, with planning approval granted earlier this year to re-purpose the 40,000 sq ft building into aparthotel accommodation.
Following negotiations, Lotus has confirmed that Sonder Hospitality UK Ltd, a subsidiary of US-headquartered hospitality company, Sonder Holdings Inc., will operate The Well as guest and self-catering accommodation with 113 bedrooms.
Sonder provides a variety of accommodation — from hotel rooms to fully-equipped suites and apartments — found in over 40 markets around the world.
The Well redevelopment will also include a separate 3,100 sq ft restaurant unit on the ground floor which is currently on the market with commercial property agent Finch.
Alastair Coulson, managing director at Lotus Property, said, “This is an exciting venture for us. The Well is in a prime location on Belfast’s Wellington Place and we believe Sonder’s award-winning design credentials and reputation will complement the city’s already thriving hotel sector.
“It is a perfect time for further investment and development in Belfast’s accommodation offering to support tourism growth and ensure we’re remaining competitive against other cities in our bid to attract national and international visitors.
“The Well is unique given its prime city centre location and the abundance of natural daylight, essential for any sort of living conversion. We have worked closely with our partners at Sonder and our design team to create a product that will further enhance the Belfast offering in this emerging sector.”
Alix McAlinden, Sonder’s director of real estate, said, “We’re excited to continue expanding our presence in EMEA in a vibrant new location with a well established landlord partner. Belfast is fast becoming a globally recognised destination for food, culture, commerce, shopping and the arts and is a perfect market for Sonder to continue redefining the guest experience through technology and design."
Work on the site is due to start next year, with plans to open in 2025.
Source: Belfast Telegraph (link opens in new window)