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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a monolith of construction framework.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, pedestrians are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place 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 described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Remedial efforts started soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been forced one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a release, its management said construction activity had forced them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has displayed large signs on the structure to remind customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, referencing "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove parts of the framework towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an improved site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more creative and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They stated: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, reflecting the complexity and size of the restoration required, however we are committed to completing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I share the frustration of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also appreciate that the firm has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."