What's Happening with Edinburgh's Scaffolding-Clad Hotel?

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's ancient city sits a imposing sight of construction framework.

For five years, the establishment on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors find no available accommodations, walkers are squeezed through confined passages, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was constructed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts started not long 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 corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had obliged them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has hung large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the framework towards the end of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that part of town really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or create something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."