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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's historic capital stands a monolith of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Work on the building got underway shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been closed off by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

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

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

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin 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 postponement.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle sections of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disturbance and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or develop something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They added: "We understand the annoyances felt by the community and shops.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the firm has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has proved to be hugely complex."