🔗 Share this article

Along the most popular thoroughfares in the heart of Scotland's ancient city looms a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

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

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

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

Work on the building began soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the junction of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a well-known restaurant left the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its owners said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery a chain – which has displayed large notices on the structure to remind customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to take down parts of the scaffold close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that section very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They continued: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and businesses.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I understand the frustration of locals and local businesses over these continued delays.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the company has a duty to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be extremely complicated."