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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's historic capital looms a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, the establishment on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists find no available accommodations, pedestrians are directed through confined passages, and establishments have vacated the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Remedial efforts began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

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

It is also home to restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has displayed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to take down portions of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section very hard.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or create something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

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

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I share the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this remediation has been exceptionally difficult."