🔗 Share this article

Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's historic capital sits a giant structure of construction framework.

For five years, the establishment on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are directed through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Construction activity started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of footpath leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been closed off by the project.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery a well-known restaurant left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said construction activity had compelled them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to reduce inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that area of the city very hard.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or create something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by the community and businesses.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."