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Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the core of Scotland's ancient city stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, a prominent hotel on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be removed.

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

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Work on the building started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

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

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would begin in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the postponement.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the structure close to the conclusion of 2026, with additional work continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an improved site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those involved in the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to incorporate it within the street view or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They stated: "We understand the annoyances felt by local residents and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the annoyance of inhabitants and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

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