Northern Irish developer Lotus Property is set to open a £20m aparthotel in Belfast in 2025.

The site, on the city's Wellington Place, was formerly offices for HMRC but was acquired by Lotus in 2020.

Planning approval was granted earlier this year to repurpose the 40,000 sq ft building into aparthotel accommodation.

Sonder Hospitality UK Ltd, a subsidiary of US-based Sonder Holdings Inc, is to operate the 113-bedroom self-catering site, which will be called the Well.

The aparthotel development features a separate 3,100 sq ft unit on the ground floor which is suitable for a food and beverage operator and is currently on the market with commercial property agent Finch.

Alastair Coulson, managing director at Lotus Property, said: "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."

Work on the development will commence early 2024 with a view to launch in 2025.

Alix McAlinden, director of real estate at Sonder, said: "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."

Sonder launched in 2014 and provides a variety of accommodation in over 40 markets worldwide. It allows guests to control all aspects of their stay through its dedicated Sonder app.