🔗 Share this article

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's historic capital stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was constructed on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Construction activity got underway soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant quit the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of dining franchise Pizza Express – which has hung large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to take down sections of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an improved site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of heritage body the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that section really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or create something more creative and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was in progress.

They added: "We recognize the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has turned out to be hugely complex."