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

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, walkers are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated 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 frame can be taken down.

The city's political leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of footpath leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been closed off by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant Ondine departed from the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its management said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to popular eatery a chain – which has placed large notices on the structure to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the façade would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the setback.

"We expect starting to remove portions of the scaffold close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an improved site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of heritage body the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

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

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to bring it into the urban landscape or create something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the frustration of inhabitants and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the firm has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be hugely complex."