🔗 Share this article

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists find no available accommodations, foot traffic are directed through narrow walkways, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was constructed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity began not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been forced one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a statement, its operators said construction activity had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the structure to inform customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that part of town really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "measures to beautify the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and shops.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this essential work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I share the annoyance of residents and local businesses over these continued delays.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the contractor has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has been hugely complex."