Princes Street Closure Extends Into Fringe

Princes Street in Edinburgh will remain closed into August after a July fire severely damaged the former Debenhams building, prompting extended safety work to preserve its historic features. The disruption affects a central transport corridor, with diversions for buses and trams and ongoing efforts to keep festivalgoers informed through a dedicated council page. City leaders emphasised that the prolonged closure is driven by safety priorities and the painstaking process of stabilising the structure, even as Edinburgh gears up for the Fringe and other major events in August. Officials indicated the timescales are not yet confirmed and that work could take several weeks, while coordinating with transport partners to minimise impact on the city center’s busy festival season. The incident remains under joint investigation by fire and police authorities, with a focus on preventing further disruption as the city proceeds with its summer program of festivals and cultural events.