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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For half a decade, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

Repair work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of footpath leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had compelled them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts popular eatery Pizza Express – which has displayed large notices on the framework to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a city committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the postponement.

"We project starting to remove portions of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to reduce disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that area of the city very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or create something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the city would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I understand the exasperation of locals and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has proved to be exceptionally difficult."