What's Happening with Edinburgh's Scaffolding-Clad Hotel?

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers cannot book rooms, pedestrians are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the project.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been forced single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the delay.

"We project starting to take down parts of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an improved site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to minimise disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to bring it into the urban landscape or create something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They continued: "We recognize the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a extended and complex process, highlighting the intricacy and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I echo the annoyance of inhabitants and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this remediation has proved to be hugely complex."