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On one of the most frequented avenues in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For five years, the establishment on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and establishments have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a popular spot left the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the framework to remind customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "highly complicated" construction issues for the postponement.

"We project starting to remove sections of the framework close to the conclusion of 2026, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an improved site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to minimise disturbance and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the urban landscape or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by the community and businesses.

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

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

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I understand the exasperation of inhabitants and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

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