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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of construction framework.

For half a decade, the establishment on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be taken down.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic 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 Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

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

A dining establishment a popular spot left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a city committee in January this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the façade would begin in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should blend the work into the city's design.

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 streetscape or develop something more creative and avant-garde."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

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

Ms Meagher said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the exasperation of locals and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."