🔗 Share this article

On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, walkers are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts started soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been forced one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the framework towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or develop something more creative and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to completing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of inhabitants and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the firm has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this restoration has been hugely complex."