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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now exasperated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be dismantled.

A local authority figure a council official has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway soon after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

Part of the road and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been closed off by the work.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and a neighboring street have been required one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

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

It is also the location of restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a city committee in January this year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, referencing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to dismantle portions of the structure towards the end of the coming year, with subsequent enhancements continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the pedestrian experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or create something more aesthetic and cutting-edge."

Ongoing Efforts

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

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to completing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the frustration of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has been extremely complicated."