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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, walkers are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have left the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building 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 significant portion of footpath leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the development.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant Ondine quit the building and relocated to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said the ongoing project had forced them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large banners on the framework to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would begin in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to remove parts of the structure towards the end of next year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, director of preservation association the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

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

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the streetscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

They added: "We recognize the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the complexity and scale of the repair work required, however we are focused on concluding this vital work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I share the frustration of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the firm has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has been hugely complex."