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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

Repair work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Work on the building started not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery a chain – which has hung large signs on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the façade would start in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

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

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

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the complexity and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."