The Ongoing Issue with Edinburgh's Scaffolding-Clad Hotel?

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, pedestrians are directed through narrow walkways, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

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

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Work on the building started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been forced single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had compelled them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has placed large signs on the structure to inform customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

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

"We project starting to take down portions of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disruption and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to bring it into the urban landscape or develop something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this vital work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the frustration of residents and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this repair has turned out to be hugely complex."