🔗 Share this article The Situation with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel? Scaffolding enveloping the hotel on a central thoroughfare may not be completely taken down until 2027. Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the heart of Scotland's historic capital stands a imposing sight of scaffolding. For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore. Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are directed through confined passages, and establishments have left the building. Repair work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding 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 first sections of the frame can be dismantled. A local authority figure a council official has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive". What is happening with this apparently perpetual project? As advertised - how the hotel looks without its covering on the company's website. A Troubled History The 136-bedroom hotel was constructed on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009. Figures from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds. Work on the building started soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022. Part of the road and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the development. People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor. Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024. In a release, its management said building work had compelled them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better". It is also the location of restaurant chain a chain – which has placed large banners on the framework to notify customers it is operating as usual. Photographs show the G&V Hotel under construction in September 2008 (left) and the scaffolding beginning in 2020 (right). Delayed Plans An communication to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would begin in February, with a full removal by the close of the year. But the firm has said that is not the case, referencing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the delay. "We anticipate starting to take down sections of the scaffold close to the conclusion of 2026, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said. "We are working closely with all parties to ensure we provide an improved site for the community." Community and Heritage Concerns A heritage director, lead of preservation association the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works. She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to reduce inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape. She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section really difficult. "I don't understand why there is not a try to incorporate it within the street view or develop something more creative and avant-garde." Tourists have been forced to walk down a confined enclosed walkway on a section of the road. Ongoing Efforts A official statement said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress. They continued: "We recognize the annoyances felt by local residents and businesses. "This represents a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the intricacy and size of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is practicable." The official said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to finish the project. She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these continued delays. "However, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be extremely complicated."