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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city looms a monolith of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are directed through confined passages, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be removed.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Construction activity started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the project.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said construction activity had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the framework to remind customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a local authority committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

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

"We anticipate starting to remove portions of the framework towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to integrate it into the street view or create something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We recognize the annoyances felt by the community and businesses.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the council would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has been hugely complex."