SLEEPERZ Hotels has become the latest accommodation provider to join Dundee's £1 billion Waterfront development.

The budget operator has announced plans to open a 120-bedroom hotel in the concourse above the city's railway station, which is being redeveloped in a £22 million project.

It will be the fourth hotel Sleeperz has opened in the UK since launching its first in Cardiff in 2008.

Site preparation work has started on the Dundee station redevelopment. Dundee City Council will invest £4.5m to fit out the hotel's interior and lease the premises to the operator.

Sleeperz Hotel Dundee, which will employ 30 staff, is scheduled to open in autumn 2016. It will be located close to the new V&A museum, also due to open that year, which will form the centre-piece of the Waterfront redevelopment.

David Myers, chief executive of Sleeperz Hotels, said: "Sleeperz Hotels is an innovative, fast-growing company with ambitious plans to expand our portfolio of UK lifestyle hotels and is delighted to secure such an exciting development.

"Dundee's waterfront regeneration is one of the biggest of its kind to ever take place in western Europe and will transform the city as a leisure, tourism and retail destination."

"Dundee needs to increase its bed stock and visitors to the city will benefit from our distinctive brand of stylish contemporary rooms and ultra-convenient location at affordable prices."

Sleeperz, which has a hotel in Newcastle and one in Edinburgh, trading as Cityroomz, is targeting further openings in Glasgow, London and Manchester.