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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

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

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Estimates from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant departed from the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said building work had compelled them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has displayed large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated 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 not the case, referencing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We project starting to take down parts of the scaffold towards the end of next year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to minimise inconvenience 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.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or develop something more creative and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This represents a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on concluding this vital work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

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

"However, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."