🔗 Share this article

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a well-known restaurant left the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had compelled them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts dining franchise a chain – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the firm has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove sections of the framework close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are focused on completing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the contractor has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."