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Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

Tourists find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Projections from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Construction activity began not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of footpath leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been forced single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had forced them to alter the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large signs on the framework to inform customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the postponement.

"We expect starting to dismantle sections of the scaffold near the finish of the coming year, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, lead of conservation group the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or create something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has turned out to be hugely complex."