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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be removed.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Work on the building began not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak 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.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

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

It is also hosts restaurant chain a chain – which has placed large banners on the structure to inform customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

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

"We expect starting to remove parts of the framework close to the conclusion of 2026, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to minimise inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's design.

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

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or produce something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the intricacy and size of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the firm has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."