What's Happening with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel?

On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are funneled through confined passages, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building began not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a release, its owners said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a city committee in January this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, citing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to remove sections of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with additional work ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are working closely with all parties to ensure we provide an better site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

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

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

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the firm has a obligation to make the building safe and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."