🔗 Share this article The Situation with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel? The protective structure enveloping the hotel on a major city bridge may not be completely taken down until 2027. Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of scaffolding. For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight. Tourists are unable to reserve stays, walkers are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building. Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027. Extended Timelines The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down. A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome". What is going on with this notoriously protracted project? Scaffold-free - how the hotel looks without its covering on the hotel's website. A Problematic Past The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009. Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about £30m. Work on the building started not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022. Part of the road and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development. Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway. Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024. In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more". It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business. Images show the the building under construction in September 2008 (left) and the scaffolding beginning in 2020 (right). Missed Deadlines An update to the a city 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 firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement. "We expect starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said. "Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we provide an better site for the local area." Local and Conservation Frustration A heritage director, director of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works. She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to minimise disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic. She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that area of the city very hard. "It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde." Shoppers have been required to walk down a confined sheltered walkway on part of the street. Continued Work A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was in progress. They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by the community and businesses. "This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the complexity and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is practicable." The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project. She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements. "That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a duty to make the building safe and that this repair has been hugely complex."