🔗 Share this article

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

Repair work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had compelled them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle sections of the structure towards the end of next year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of heritage body the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the street view or create something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They continued: "We understand the annoyances felt by local residents and businesses.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and size of the restoration required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

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