🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a monolith of construction framework.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors find no available accommodations, pedestrians are squeezed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be removed.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Construction activity started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

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

It is also hosts dining franchise Pizza Express – which has placed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the street view or create something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

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

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

"However, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has been exceptionally difficult."