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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have left the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the structure can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of footpath 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 a neighboring street have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its owners said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has hung large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove sections of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "measures to beautify the site" was continuing.

They added: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

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

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the firm has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be extremely complicated."