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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a monolith of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are directed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be taken down.

A local authority figure a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of pavement 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 Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a popular spot quit the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to popular eatery Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to dismantle portions of the framework near the finish of 2026, with additional work proceeding afterwards," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

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

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that part of town very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more creative and innovative."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by the community and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the exasperation of inhabitants and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the firm has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has turned out to be extremely complicated."