What's Happening with the Capital's Scaffolding-Clad Hotel?

Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's historic capital stands a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

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

Remedial work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

A local authority figure a council official 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 developed on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant Ondine left the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a chain – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to inform customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would commence in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that area of the city really difficult.

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

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

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

The official said the city would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

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

"However, I also appreciate that the contractor has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."