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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's historic capital stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

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.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be taken down.

A local authority figure a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Remedial efforts began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

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

In a release, its management said building work had obliged them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in January this year indicated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, pointing to "highly complicated" structural challenges for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove parts of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

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

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

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to bring it into the street view or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "measures to beautify the site" was in progress.

They added: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are focused on concluding this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the annoyance of residents and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building secure and that this remediation has turned out to be hugely complex."