🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

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

Travellers find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity began soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has hung large notices on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, referencing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to take down portions of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an better site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section very hard.

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

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is feasible."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has been hugely complex."