What's Happening with Edinburgh's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, walkers are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have left the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the old 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.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been closed off by the project.

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

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a chain – which has hung large banners on the framework to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, referencing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle sections of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director 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 involved in the project had a "public duty" to lessen inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

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

They added: "We recognize the frustrations felt by the community and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the intricacy and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

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

"However, I also acknowledge that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."