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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city looms a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are directed through confined passages, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be dismantled.

A local authority figure a city representative has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the development.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and another locale have been forced single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine left the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said the ongoing project had forced them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has placed large banners on the structure to remind customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in January this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the scaffold near the finish of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those working on the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or create something more creative and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "measures to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The official said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also appreciate that the firm has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."