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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through confined passages, and establishments have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened 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 Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the historic street have been closed off by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant quit the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a city committee in early this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to take down sections of the framework near the finish of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that section really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to bring it into the urban landscape or create something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

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

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

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

The council leader said the council would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be hugely complex."