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

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through narrow walkways, and establishments have left the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Construction activity began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the development.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been compelled in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a popular spot departed from the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also hosts restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle portions of the structure close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the streetscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

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

They continued: "We understand the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This has been a extended and complex process, reflecting the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the frustration of residents and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also appreciate that the firm has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."