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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through narrow walkways, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

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

Projections from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Work on the building started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would begin in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the structure towards the end of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, lead of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that area of the city very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or create something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was continuing.

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

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

The council leader said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I share the frustration of inhabitants and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."