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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city sits a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are funneled through narrow walkways, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Construction activity began soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been compelled single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment Ondine departed from the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

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

It is also home to dining franchise a chain – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the façade would begin in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, referencing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove parts of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to reduce inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be hugely complex."