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Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been required one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine left the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

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

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the framework to inform customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

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

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove portions of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

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

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be exceptionally difficult."