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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city stands a giant structure of construction framework.

For five years, the establishment on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, pedestrians are squeezed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been forced one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a well-known restaurant left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its management said the ongoing project had forced them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large notices on the structure to remind customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the structure near the finish of next year, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

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

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that area of the city very hard.

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

Project Response

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

They stated: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

"That said, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."