What's Happening with the Capital's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city sits a monolith of construction framework.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

A local authority figure a city representative has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity began shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the project.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been forced single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

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

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, referencing "extremely complex" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to remove sections of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They added: "We understand the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the complexity and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has been hugely complex."