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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure a city representative has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

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

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the project.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its owners said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

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

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a city committee in January this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I share the exasperation of residents and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a obligation to make the building safe and that this restoration has been exceptionally difficult."