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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Remedial efforts got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant departed from the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said construction activity had compelled them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has placed large notices on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the setback.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the scaffold towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an better site for the public."

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 "leisurely" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to reduce disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that area of the city very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or develop something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was continuing.

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

"This has been a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on finishing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

"That said, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this repair has been hugely complex."