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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 junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building got underway soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the framework to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would commence in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the postponement.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to reduce disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of inhabitants and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this remediation has been exceptionally difficult."