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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the work.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine quit the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a release, its operators said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has hung large signs on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the façade would begin in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

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

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot 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 innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We recognize the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these continued delays.

"However, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."