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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of construction framework.

For half a decade, the establishment on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Construction activity started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the development.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

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

It is also the location of restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has hung large banners on the framework to notify customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We project starting to remove portions of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

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

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that area of the city very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and innovative."

Continued Work

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

They continued: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and shops.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has been exceptionally difficult."