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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Remedial efforts started 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 significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said construction activity had obliged them to alter the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

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

Delayed Plans

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

But the firm has said that is incorrect, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the structure near the finish of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" 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 streetscape.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

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

Ongoing Efforts

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

They continued: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the intricacy and scale of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I echo the annoyance of inhabitants and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this repair has been exceptionally difficult."