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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have vacated the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be taken down.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

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

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

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

Part of the road and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been closed off by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been forced in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant quit the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said the ongoing project had forced them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large banners on the framework to remind customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a city committee in early this year suggested that the process of "revealing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, pointing to "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove sections of the structure towards the end of 2026, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with all parties to ensure we create an better site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of conservation group the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not a try to integrate it into the urban landscape or create something more creative and innovative."

Continued Work

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

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

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are focused on completing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be extremely complicated."