🔗 Share this article

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are funneled through narrow walkways, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

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

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

Background Issues

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building got underway soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its management said construction activity had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the façade would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

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

"We project starting to dismantle portions of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

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

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

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the frustration of residents and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."