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Along the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of scaffolding.

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

Visitors find no available accommodations, foot traffic are directed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has described it as a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

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

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant Ondine left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had forced them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold towards the end of next year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to lessen inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's streetscape.

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

"I don't understand why there is not a try to bring it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

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

They continued: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

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

"That said, I also appreciate that the firm has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has been hugely complex."