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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are directed through tight corridors, and businesses have abandoned the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

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

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

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

Projections from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts began shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

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

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a popular spot quit the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also home to dining franchise a chain – which has hung large banners on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is incorrect, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to take down sections of the scaffold towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an enhanced site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to minimise inconvenience and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to integrate it into the streetscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

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

"This represents a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

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

"However, I also acknowledge that the firm has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."