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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists cannot book rooms, walkers are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions 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 "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been required single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a popular spot left the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a city committee in January this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the framework near the finish of 2026, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, director of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to reduce disruption and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

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

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

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and scale of the restoration required, however we are committed to concluding this necessary work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I share the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."