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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of the famous Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

Estimates from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway not long after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the project.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a comment, its owners said the ongoing project had compelled them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large signs on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

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

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the setback.

"We expect starting to dismantle portions of the structure close to the conclusion of next year, with additional work ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, lead of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

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

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

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or create something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A company representative said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We understand the irritations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the intricacy and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the contractor has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be hugely complex."