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On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of scaffolding.

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

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

Repair work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

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

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

A dining establishment a popular spot quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its management said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has displayed large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the façade would commence in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, pointing to "highly complicated" construction issues for the delay.

"We expect starting to dismantle parts of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an better site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

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

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to concluding this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the city would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I share the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has proved to be hugely complex."