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Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, foot traffic are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the framework could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the structure can be removed.

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

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was constructed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot departed from the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its management said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts popular eatery a chain – which has displayed large notices on the structure to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that area of the city very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to bring it into the urban landscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

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

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the frustration of residents and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."