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

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

Visitors find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through confined passages, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial 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

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

A local authority figure a council official has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The 136-bedroom 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 a significant sum.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the historic street have been closed off by the project.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant quit the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had forced them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in January this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the structure near the finish of next year, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

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

The council leader said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

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

"However, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be hugely complex."