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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre 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 plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be taken down.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity got underway shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been compelled in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to inform customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the setback.

"We project starting to take down sections of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with additional work ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

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

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this vital work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of inhabitants and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."