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On one of the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital stands a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

Remedial work 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

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts began soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been closed off by the work.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a comment, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year stated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove portions of the scaffold near the finish of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that part of town really difficult.

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

Project Response

A official statement said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We recognize the annoyances felt by local residents and shops.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to completing this essential work as soon as is possible."

The official said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the annoyance of residents and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."