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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 metal poles and platforms.

For five years, the establishment on the junction of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been left out of action by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said the ongoing project had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove portions of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, lead of preservation association the a local 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 "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or produce something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and size of the remedial work required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be extremely complicated."