🔗 Share this article

Along the most frequented avenues in the heart of Scotland's historic capital sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, pedestrians are directed through tight corridors, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be taken down.

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

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a popular spot departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said building work had compelled them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has displayed large signs on the structure to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold near the finish of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

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 part of town really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and size of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is possible."

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

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

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