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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, a prominent hotel on the corner of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the first sections of the structure can be dismantled.

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

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the previous regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of footpath leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery Ondine left the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts dining franchise a chain – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

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

"We project starting to remove parts of the framework close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should blend the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to integrate it into the streetscape or create something more creative and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

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

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the city would "maintain pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the company has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."