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Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city sits a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

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

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

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

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of pavement 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 Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment a popular spot left the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also hosts restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, citing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove portions of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

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

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was continuing.

They added: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by local residents and shops.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are committed to finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the frustration of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the firm has a duty to make the building secure and that this remediation has proved to be exceptionally difficult."