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

For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are squeezed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down.

The city's political leader a council official has called it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a large section of footpath leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the development.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine departed from the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the framework to remind customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the façade would start in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "extremely complex" building problems for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle sections of the structure towards the end of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to minimise disruption and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the street view or create something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was in progress.

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

"This represents a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

The official said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also acknowledge that the firm has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has been exceptionally difficult."