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On one of the most frequented avenues in the core of Scotland's ancient city looms a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, pedestrians are directed through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts got underway shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been forced in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a popular spot left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to take down sections of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an improved site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

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

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that part of town very hard.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by the community and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also acknowledge that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this repair has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."