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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

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

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

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

Remedial efforts got underway not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been compelled in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said the ongoing project had compelled them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

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

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle portions of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

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

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and shops.

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

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I share the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the company has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be hugely complex."