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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital stands 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 shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have left the building.

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

Further Delays

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

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts started not long 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 footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a popular spot quit the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its owners said building work had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts dining franchise Pizza Express – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to remind customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would begin in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "highly complicated" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to remove portions of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that section very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or produce something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

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

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and scale of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to concluding this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

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

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