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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city stands a monolith of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are directed through confined passages, and establishments have abandoned the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be removed.

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

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had compelled them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

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

Delayed Plans

An report to the a local authority committee in early this year stated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the firm has said that is not the case, citing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the setback.

"We project starting to take down parts of the scaffold near the finish of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to reduce disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

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

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to bring it into the urban landscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

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

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be hugely complex."