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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city sits a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

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.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be removed.

A local authority figure a council official has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

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

A section of the street and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery Ondine quit the building and moved to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its management said the ongoing project had compelled them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts dining franchise a chain – which has hung large signs on the structure to notify customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would start in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the postponement.

"We expect starting to remove portions of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are working closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was in progress.

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

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to finishing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also appreciate that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."