Former tax office to become 113-bed aparthotel

A former Belfast tax office is to be turned into a 113-bedroom city centre aparthotel.

Banbridge-based Lotus Property, which owns which owns The Boulevard and The Junction shopping outlets, bought Beaufort House on Wellington Place in February 2020 and secured planning permission last year for a new nine-story office venture, dubbed ‘Belfast’s healthiest office building’.

Work on the 35,000 sq ft project was expected to begin this year, however with the  centre now awash with vacant high-spec office space, Lotus has redrawn its plans.

The company has lodged a change of use application with Belfast City Council, seeking permission to develop 113 bedrooms across the first to eighth floors.

It would involve a mix of single, twin and double rooms, with between 10-16 units per floor and the plans also provide for a ground floor bar and restaurant.

A letter from the planning consultancy TSA indicates the work will include an upgrade of the building’s front façade.

The site is located just around the corner from a 175-unit aparthotel, which is under construction on Queen Street.

Lotus said when the larger project is complete, the proportion of aparthotel units within the city’s entire hotel stock will be 4.5%, below the likes of Dublin (5.3%) and Manchester (8.1%).

“If approved, the proposed change of use to Beaufort House would increase total aparthotel share of hotel stock in the city centre to 6.8% and increase market options for visitors to Belfast.”

Lotus is also involved in a £55m student accommodation project opposite St Patrick’s Church on Donegall Street. It’s expected to include around 720 student units when complete.