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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been forced one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant quit the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its management said construction activity had forced them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery a chain – which has displayed large banners on the framework to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the firm has said that is not the case, referencing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to remove sections of the scaffold towards the end of next year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

They continued: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to concluding this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."