🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's historic capital sits a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and establishments have left the building.

Remedial work commenced 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

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the structure 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 "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts began shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been closed off by the development.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a well-known restaurant quit the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its management said building work had compelled them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle sections of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, 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 associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or create something more creative and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

A project spokesperson said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We recognize the frustrations felt by the community and businesses.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this remediation has turned out to be extremely complicated."