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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have left the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be taken down.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

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

Remedial efforts started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of footpath leading up to the junction of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been forced in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "patrons merited more".

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

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would start in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle portions of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They added: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

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

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

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

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the contractor has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be exceptionally difficult."