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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

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

Visitors find no available accommodations, pedestrians are directed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be removed.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building got underway soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a popular spot quit the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had compelled them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has hung large banners on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

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 aesthetic.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or develop something more creative and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

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

"This has been a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I understand the annoyance of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has been hugely complex."