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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

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

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be removed.

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

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the work.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been forced single-file into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

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

It is also home to dining franchise Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the framework to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a city committee in January this year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would start in February, with a total takedown by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle sections of the scaffold close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

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

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that area of the city really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to integrate it into the urban landscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the annoyance of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

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