Edinburgh's Princes Street may fully reopen by the end of August 2026, provided that engineers can finish stabilising the fire-damaged former Debenhams building. Council leader Jane Meagher said several tonnes of unstable brickwork and stonework have already been cleared and steel support beams installed, marking significant progress since the blaze tore through the historic building on 9 July 2026.
The city's principal shopping street has remained partly closed since the fire, forcing bus diversions and restricted tram services that have hit footfall for bars and restaurants as far away as Leith. According to the council's own Princes Street updates page, the closure is now expected to continue until at least mid-August 2026 while diversions and alternative arrangements are put in place to accommodate festival events.
How much progress has been made on securing the building?
Roughly 40% of the steel beams required to stabilise the façade are now in place, the council said in its latest update. The eastern gable section has already been made safe, a process that involved cutting its height by nearly 7ft (2m) and bracing it with scaffolding. Unstable stonework, some pieces weighing as much as 850kg, has been lowered by crane and set aside on site for possible reuse later.
Meagher told representatives from affected businesses, community groups and heritage organisations that she was encouraged by the pace of the work, though she stressed safety remained the priority.
We've been working tirelessly to make sure Princes Street can fully reopen and I'm reassured by the progress being made.
It goes without saying that we want to do this as soon as possible – but only when it is safe to do so.
Why is the work taking so long?
Much of the stabilisation work depends on crane operations, which can only proceed in suitable weather, meaning progress can stall during periods of wind or rain. The council has described the overall operation as complex, according to its official updates page, and has said the work is likely to take several more weeks to complete in full.
Lothian Buses has said it cannot yet give a firm date for restoring its full network through the area, describing the situation as
