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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's ancient city sits a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

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

Work on the building got underway not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant left the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

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

It is also the location of dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a local authority committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, pointing to "extremely complex" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, lead of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

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

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that part of town really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to integrate it into the street view or create something more artistic and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They stated: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this vital work as soon as is feasible."

The official said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this remediation has proved to be extremely complicated."