Major £20m Belfast city-centre hotel project officially gets under way

Artist’s impression of the new Staycity aparthotel in Belfast city centre

Construction work has officially begun on the first Staycity aparthotel in Northern Ireland, with the £20 million development set to bring 98 new guest units to the heart of Belfast city centre by May 2027.

The project marks a significant investment in Belfast’s growing visitor economy and will also serve as the launch site for Staycity Group’s new brand concept, making the city the first location to showcase the hospitality company’s refreshed design vision.

The development will see Lotus Property transform the former Beaufort House office building on Wellington Place into a nine-storey aparthotel, adding a major new accommodation offering to one of the city’s most prominent commercial streets.

The scheme comes amid continued demand for overnight stays in Belfast, with visitors increasingly staying for longer periods and planning trips around major events and city experiences.

Major city-centre redevelopment underway

(L-R) Connor McCann (Killowen Contracts), Aaron Spring (Development Director at Lotus Property), Paul Herbison (Corporate Manager at Danske Bank), and Andrew Knapton (Director at Killowen Contracts)

The repurposing of Beaufort House represents another significant city-centre regeneration project, bringing a former office building back into active commercial use as Belfast continues to expand its tourism and hospitality footprint.

Once completed, the aparthotel will feature a mix of studio apartments and one-bedroom units, aimed at both business and leisure travellers.

Alongside the guest accommodation, the development will include a range of on-site amenities, including:

• a gym

• reception area

• bar

• restaurant

• retail offering

The finished site is expected to become the blueprint for Staycity’s refreshed brand identity, combining contemporary interiors with flexible living spaces and hotel-style services.

The move is particularly notable as it marks Staycity Group’s first entry into the Northern Ireland market, adding Belfast to its existing 36-aparthotel portfolio across the UK and Europe.

Belfast chosen as launch city for new Staycity concept

The Dublin-headquartered hospitality group said Belfast was selected as the launch location for its new design concept as the city continues to attract both domestic and international visitors.

(L-R) Connor McCann (Killowen Contracts), Aaron Spring (Development Director at Lotus Property), Paul Herbison (Corporate Manager at Danske Bank), and Andrew Knapton (Director at Killowen Contracts)

Andrew Folwer, UK Development Director at Staycity Group, said:

“Being on site in Belfast is another significant milestone for Staycity as we not only make our first move into Northern Ireland but also gear up to bring our fresh new brand concept to life. Belfast city continues to thrive with local and international visitors and major events in the pipeline.”

The investment reflects growing confidence in Belfast’s tourism sector, particularly as the city continues to position itself as a key destination for events, business travel and short city breaks.

Funding and construction partners confirmed

Construction work is being carried out by Killowen Contracts, while the project has secured financial backing from Danske Bank, which has provided funding support to Lotus Property for the transformation of the landmark building.

Alastair Coulson, Managing Director at Lotus Property, said:

“We’re delighted to see work underway on this important city-centre development, which reflects strong confidence in Belfast’s continued growth. Partnering with Staycity on the launch of its new brand concept makes this an especially exciting project, bringing a high-quality aparthotel offering to the city and revitalising the city centre streetscape”

The development is expected to support activity across construction, tourism and hospitality in the run-up to its opening.

Paul Herbison, Corporate Manager at Danske Bank, said:

“This development reflects the strong momentum we continue to see across Belfast’s commercial and visitor economy. We are pleased to back Lotus Property with funding for this aparthotel, which combines a strong operator, a prime location and a clear long-term vision for growth whilst also supporting local construction, tourism and hospitality jobs. We’re looking forward to seeing the building open for guests in 2027”

Construction now active on landmark site

With work now officially under way, the focus turns to delivering the major city-centre transformation over the next year.

Brian McGovern at Killowen Contracts said:

“It has been fantastic to begin construction works on this landmark project in the centre of Belfast. We look forward to working closely with Lotus Property and Staycity on this active repurpose to deliver a high-quality aparthotel ready to welcome guests in 2027.”

The development is expected to further strengthen Belfast’s growing hotel and aparthotel sector as demand continues to rise for centrally located accommodation designed for longer and more flexible stays.

For Belfast, the project is another visible sign of continued investment in the city centre and confidence in its long-term growth trajectory.

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At a glance

• Construction has begun on the first Staycity aparthotel in Northern Ireland

• The project is valued at £20 million

• Located at former Beaufort House, Wellington Place, Belfast

• Development will provide 98 keys across nine storeys

• Opening date scheduled for May 2027

• First site to launch Staycity’s new brand concept

• Includes studios, one-bedroom apartments, gym, bar and restaurant

• Developed by Lotus Property

• Funded by Danske Bank

• Built by Killowen Contracts