The Ongoing Issue with Edinburgh's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city stands a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the corner of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

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

A local authority figure a city representative has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a comment, its owners said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has placed large signs on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We project starting to take down portions of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with additional work continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

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

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to lessen disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or produce something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

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

They stated: "We understand the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

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

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

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."