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Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's historic capital sits a monolith of construction framework.

For half a decade, a prominent hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers cannot book rooms, walkers are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have left the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

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

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building got underway shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the project.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery Ondine quit the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

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

It is also hosts dining franchise a chain – which has displayed large notices on the framework to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

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

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the structure towards the end of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

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 experience for those on foot in that section really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or develop something more creative and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They added: "We understand the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is possible."

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

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be hugely complex."