🔗 Share this article The Situation with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel? Scaffolding surrounding the hotel on a major city bridge may not be fully removed until 2027. Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital sits a monolith of construction framework. For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore. Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are squeezed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building. Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027. Further Delays The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be removed. The city's political leader a city representative has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient". What is going on with this notoriously protracted project? Scaffold-free - how the hotel looks without its covering on the brand's website. A Problematic Past The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former local government offices in 2009. Figures from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds. Construction activity began soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022. A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the project. Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been forced in a line into a narrow, covered walkway. An eatery Ondine left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024. In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience". It is also home to restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has placed large notices on the framework to remind customers it is operating as usual. Pictures show the the building during development in September 2008 (left) and the project beginning in 2020 (right). Delayed Plans An communication to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would begin in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year. But the contractor has said that is incorrect, referencing "highly complicated" construction issues for the postponement. "We expect starting to dismantle portions of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read. "We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the public." Local and Conservation Frustration A heritage director, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development. She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's design. She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section very hard. "It is perplexing why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or develop something more aesthetic and cutting-edge." Pedestrians have been forced to walk down a narrow covered walkway on a section of the road. Ongoing Efforts A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was in progress. They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and businesses. "This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the complexity and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable." Ms Meagher 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 share the frustration of residents and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements. "That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has been exceptionally difficult."