Aparthotel developer plans nationwide roll-out

Manchester property developer Stuart Wall has secured financial backing to build 12 new boutique aparthotels throughout the UK.

The company, The Place for Living, is believed to be looking to build one new property a year and is currently investigating sites in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Wall's first foray into aparthotels was in 2001 - a £16m project which turned a derelict warehouse into The Place in Manchester's up-and-coming Piccadilly district. Each room comes complete with bedroom and kitchen.

A spokesman said the company would continue to redevelop old warehouse sites into aparthotels.

With room-only prices starting at £119 per night, the expansion could compete with the likes of Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

Hotel consultant Melvin Gold said: "It's difficult to predict the potential of the aparthotel market, as it may be seen as a particular niche market by customers. I think it's time has finally come, but it depends on getting the right sites."