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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For half a decade, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts got underway soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been forced one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a well-known restaurant quit the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

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

It is also home to dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would start in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" structural challenges for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

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

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that section really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this vital work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I echo the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be hugely complex."