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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's historic capital looms 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 George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

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

The city's political leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Projections from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

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

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the junction of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been required one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its owners said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has hung large notices on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

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

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, referencing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold near the finish of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we create an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to lessen inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more creative and cutting-edge."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This represents a extended and complex process, highlighting the complexity and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are committed to completing this essential work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the council would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

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

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be exceptionally difficult."