UK: Student Roost, the owners and operators of a student accommodation complex on Belfast’s Little Patrick Street, have announced plans to temporarily repurpose part of the development as an aparthotel.
The development, located adjacent to the expanding Ulster University Belfast campus, will be completed in summer 2020. The company is proposing to operate 62 per cent of its rooms as an aparthotel on a temporary basis, following which it will return to sole provision of purpose-built student accommodation.
The development, Student Roost’s fourth in Belfast, was approved in 2018 to meet the growing demand for high-quality student accommodation close to Ulster University’s new city centre campus. The plans are being presented as part of Student Roost’s commitment to developing an active building while construction continues at the new campus.
The latest proposal puts forward plans for seven floors of the building to be let out as an aparthotel until the Ulster University campus is complete and students transition from its Jordanstown campus. The temporary aparthotel seeks to support the regeneration of the area while offering high quality serviced-accommodation for those visiting Belfast.
Stephen Rigby, chief investment officer at Student Roost, said: “We look forward to continuing our growth in Belfast, a key market for us, as well as welcoming new residents who will be enrolled in the state-of-the-art Ulster University campus. As the university prepares to open its doors, Student Roost seeks to add vitality to the Little Patrick Street area by welcoming visitors to enjoy short-stays at the temporary aparthotel which occupies a portion of our new building. We look forward to introducing this meanwhile-use concept ahead of returning to our core business of meeting the growing demand for high quality student accommodation.”
The 11-storey Student Roost comprises 430 beds in a mix of cluster and studio bedrooms. The most recent planning application proposal seeks to change the use of rooms located on floors 5 to 11 to serviced apartments for a short-term duration.
The units to be made available as part of the Student Roost Aparthotel will be equipped with a self-contained kitchen, bathroom and living space.
Philip Stinson, director at planning consultants Turley, said: “A temporary change of use for the proposed purpose-built student accommodation is a fitting solution to ensure these high-quality living quarters contribute to area’s regeneration in advance of the new Ulster University opening. Belfast continues to set itself apart as an educational landmark and attracts strong demand from students for residency options in close proximity to campuses and city amenities.”
