What's Happening with the Capital's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through confined passages, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Construction activity began soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been closed off by the project.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its management said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to inform customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, citing "highly complicated" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the structure towards the end of 2026, with additional work proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that section very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to bring it into the street view or create something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I share the exasperation of locals and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this repair has been extremely complicated."