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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's ancient city sits a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Remedial efforts started not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a well-known restaurant left the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

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

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has displayed large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, pointing to "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to remove parts of the structure close to the conclusion of next year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, lead of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's design.

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

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the streetscape or create something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by the community and enterprises.

"This has been 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 possible."

The official said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also recognize that the firm has a obligation to make the building secure and that this remediation has been hugely complex."