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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through narrow walkways, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be taken down.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

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

Part of the road 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 an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a statement, its owners said construction activity had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

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

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the scaffold towards the end of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen disruption and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the streetscape or develop something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We understand the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, highlighting the intricacy and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to completing this vital work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also acknowledge that the firm has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has proved to be extremely complicated."