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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

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

Remedial efforts started soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment Ondine left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its management said construction activity had obliged them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the structure to inform customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, referencing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to dismantle portions of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we provide an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to bring it into the urban landscape or produce something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

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

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the firm has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this remediation has turned out to be hugely complex."