What's Happening with Edinburgh's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel?

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital stands a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, pedestrians are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have left the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure a city representative has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Construction activity began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of footpath leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment a popular spot departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has placed large signs on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in January this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to remove portions of the structure towards the end of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to bring it into the street view or create something more creative and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "measures to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are committed to finishing this vital work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."