Serviced apartment operator Staycity has confirmed it will open a new £17 million complex in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

The Dublin-based company, which already operates 82 apartments in the Arcadian Centre, is now planning to open 172 one- and two-bedroom units by May next year.

The plans for the site of the former Science Museum, in Newhall Square, were initially submitted in late 2012 and the project was originally scheduled to open in 2014.

It will create the equivalent of 35 full-time jobs.

Serviced apartments are already available in the Rotunda through Staying Cool while property developer Anthony McCourt is renovating the former HSBC building in Paradise Circus into a 137-bedroom hotel and 53 serviced apartments.

Staycity chief executive Tom Walsh: "We are delighted to announce this deal which is an important part of our European expansion strategy.

"Birmingham is one of the most important business and leisure centres outside London.

"This property will give us a stronger foothold in the city as the demand for serviced apartments grows."

Staycity has more than 1,000 apartments across eight European cities including Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester and Paris.

It said it was planning to expand its operations to 5,000 apartments over the next five years and is due to open 161 purpose-built apartments across two properties in Greenwich with further new apartments planned for Venice and Lyon.