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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Construction activity began not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been closed off by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been required in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment Ondine quit the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its management said the ongoing project had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large banners on the structure to remind customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "exceptionally intricate" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," they said.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, 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 reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that part of town really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to integrate it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The official said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this repair has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."