The Ongoing Issue with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel?

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, walkers are funneled through narrow walkways, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be removed.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been closed off by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a popular spot departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its owners said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has placed large notices on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a city committee in early this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to minimise inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that part of town really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to bring it into the urban landscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

They added: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the exasperation of locals and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the firm has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has been hugely complex."