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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of construction framework.

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

Tourists cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be removed.

A local authority figure a city representative has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Work on the building got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the development.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a comment, its operators said construction activity had compelled them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a chain – which has hung large signs on the framework to inform customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "exposing" the façade would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle sections of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, director of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or develop something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This constitutes a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the intricacy and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building secure and that this remediation has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."