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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

A local authority figure a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners 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 Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Construction activity 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 intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the development.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been compelled one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a popular spot left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its management said construction activity had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large signs on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a local authority committee in January this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We expect starting to dismantle portions of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

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 integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We understand the frustrations felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of inhabitants and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."