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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have left the building.

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

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be removed.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Work on the building began not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been compelled in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

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

Missed Deadlines

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

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

"We project starting to remove sections of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, lead of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

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

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the streetscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and size of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the city would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the frustration of residents and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also appreciate that the firm has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."