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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's ancient city stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building started not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been closed off by the work.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been forced in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a release, its owners said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large banners on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "highly complicated" construction issues for the postponement.

"We expect starting to remove sections of the structure towards the end of 2026, with additional work proceeding afterwards," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

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

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to incorporate it within the street view or create something more creative and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We understand the annoyances felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the intricacy and scale of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

"That said, I also acknowledge that the firm has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has proved to be hugely complex."