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On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

Travellers cannot book rooms, foot traffic are directed through narrow walkways, and businesses have left the building.

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the frame can be removed.

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

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

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

Projections from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Work on the building started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the project.

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

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

In a release, its owners said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

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

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "revealing" the façade would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the delay.

"We anticipate starting to remove portions of the structure towards the end of 2026, with further improvements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the a local association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to minimise inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It causes the experience for those on foot in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

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

Ongoing Efforts

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was continuing.

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

"This represents a extended and complex process, highlighting the intricacy and scale of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the city would "maintain pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be hugely complex."