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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's ancient city looms a imposing sight of scaffolding.

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

Tourists cannot book rooms, foot traffic are funneled through tight corridors, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be dismantled.

Edinburgh's council leader a council official has described it as a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

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 large section of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant departed from the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

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 communication to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is incorrect, referencing "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the scaffold near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements ongoing after that," a statement read.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, director of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to integrate it into the urban landscape or create something more aesthetic and innovative."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by local residents and businesses.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, reflecting the complexity and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to finishing this essential work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to complete the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I understand the frustration of inhabitants and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this remediation has turned out to be extremely complicated."