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

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be removed.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of footpath leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said construction activity had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of dining franchise Pizza Express – which has displayed large notices on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

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

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we create an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to reduce disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that section really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to bring it into the streetscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "measures to beautify the site" was ongoing.

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

"This represents a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are committed to completing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the company has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."