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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, the establishment on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors find no available accommodations, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and establishments have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has labeled 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 built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

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

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been compelled one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a statement, its management said construction activity had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also hosts popular eatery a chain – which has hung large notices on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in early this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would commence in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, referencing "highly complicated" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the scaffold close to the conclusion of 2026, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

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

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that section really difficult.

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

Ongoing Efforts

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

They continued: "We recognize the frustrations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I understand the annoyance of inhabitants and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the contractor has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has been hugely complex."