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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be removed.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts started not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had forced them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

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

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are working closely with all parties to ensure we provide an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

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

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that section very hard.

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to bring it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and innovative."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We understand the annoyances felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this essential work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of inhabitants and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a duty to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."