The Ongoing Issue with Edinburgh's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

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

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

A local authority figure a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts started soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine departed from the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its management said building work had compelled them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large signs on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to reduce disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the intricacy and size of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the annoyance of inhabitants and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also acknowledge that the company has a obligation to make the building safe and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."