🔗 Share this article

Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

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

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through confined passages, and establishments have left the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the structure can be taken down.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building got underway shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the project.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said the ongoing project had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

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

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the postponement.

"We project starting to take down sections of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, lead of heritage body the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by the community and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I share the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has been extremely complicated."