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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and commercial tenants have left the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be removed.

A local authority figure a city representative has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Remedial efforts began not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a release, its owners said construction activity had compelled them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, referencing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to remove portions of the framework near the finish of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to integrate it into the urban landscape or produce something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the intricacy and size of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also acknowledge that the company has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be extremely complicated."