Titanic Quarter development to include aparthotel

Plans for a major hotel development in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter have been revised by the London-based developer behind them to reflect “a change in market demand”.

Despite being granted planning approval in January 2020 for a 276-bedroom hotel opposite the Titanic tourist attraction, JMK Group is now planning a 156 bedroom hotel along with 98 aparthotel rooms, accessed from a separate entrance.

Each aparthotel will include a fully equipped kitchen with dedicated work space

The announcement comes after work recently commenced on a 175-unit aparthotel on Belfast’s Queen Street.

Oakland Holdings, the company behind the 10 storey development, claimed it would be the city’s first aparthotel.

Belfast hotel group Andras House has also secured planning approval for a 13 storey aparthotel on Bedford Street.

JMK’s Belfast project is estimated at £30 million.

Its Irish hotel portfolio includes the Holiday Inn Express and Hampton by Hilton in Dublin city centre, as well as the Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport and Waterford Marina Hotel.

Belfast Harbour has also  launched a joint bid for 778 apartments at the Titanic Quarter.

Lacuna Developments and the Watkin Jones Group are joint developers for the Loft Lines proposal which will provide for 151 social housing units in the same residential block.

The remaining 627 units will be allocated for the rental market, comprised of around 500 (one, two and three bedroom) apartments; including 121 one-person studio apartments; and ten two person accessible apartments.