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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

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

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

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

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

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of pavement leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant quit the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said construction activity had forced them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large notices on the structure to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "exposing" the frontage would start in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "exceptionally intricate" structural challenges for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to bring it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the exasperation of inhabitants and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has been hugely complex."