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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's ancient city sits a giant structure of scaffolding.

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

Tourists cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of pavement 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 another locale have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment Ondine quit the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

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

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

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a city committee in early this year stated that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the structure close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, director of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more artistic and innovative."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and shops.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the firm has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."