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Along the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's historic capital sits a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists find no available accommodations, pedestrians are squeezed through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

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

Further Delays

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

A local authority figure a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The 136-bedroom hotel was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Figures from when it originally launched under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about £30m.

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been rendered unusable by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant Ondine left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

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

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has hung large signs on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But the firm has said that will not happen, referencing "highly complicated" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to take down sections of the scaffold close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," a statement read.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, lead of conservation group the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

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

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the urban landscape or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, highlighting the complexity and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are committed to concluding this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The official said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also appreciate that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."