🔗 Share this article

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, the establishment on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have vacated the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

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

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

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts began soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot left the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has hung large signs on the framework to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

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

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle portions of the scaffold close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," they said.

"We are working closely with all parties to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to bring it into the street view or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

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

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these continued delays.

"However, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be extremely complicated."