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Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

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

Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

Background Issues

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

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about a significant sum.

Construction activity began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been left out of action by the work.

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

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said building work 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 placed large notices on the scaffold to inform customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a city committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would begin in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to take down parts of the framework near the finish of 2026, with further improvements ongoing after that," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of preservation association the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

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

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that part of town exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or create something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This has been a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

The council leader said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

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

"However, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be hugely complex."