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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be removed.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Work on the building got underway not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said construction activity had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

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

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

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

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or create something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They added: "We understand the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the frustration of residents and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has turned out to be hugely complex."