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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's historic capital looms a giant structure of construction framework.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

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

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be taken down.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the old Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Remedial efforts started shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been compelled one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery a well-known restaurant quit the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its management said construction activity had forced them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

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 total takedown by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with additional work continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are working closely with all parties to ensure we create an enhanced site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to minimise disruption and should blend the work into the city's design.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the street view or produce something more artistic and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A company representative said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

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

"This has been a extended and complex process, highlighting the complexity and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."