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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are squeezed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

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

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

The establishment with 136 rooms 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 development expense at about £30m.

Construction activity began not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been compelled single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment Ondine quit the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its operators said construction activity had compelled them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "revealing" 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 "highly complicated" structural challenges for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of heritage body the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to reduce disruption and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or develop something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They added: "We understand the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the intricacy and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of inhabitants and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be extremely complicated."