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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts got underway not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of footpath leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the project.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been forced in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had obliged them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the structure to inform customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "exposing" the exterior would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

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

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or develop something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was in progress.

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be hugely complex."