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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the former Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of pavement leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to a different location in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had forced them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large signs on the framework to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle sections of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that area of the city very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the streetscape or develop something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and shops.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I share the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the firm has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be extremely complicated."