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Along the most frequented avenues in the heart of Scotland's historic capital sits a imposing sight of construction framework.

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

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, walkers are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a release, its owners said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

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

"We expect starting to remove parts of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we create an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

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

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to incorporate it within the urban landscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

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

They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by the community and shops.

"This has been a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this remediation has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."