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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core 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 a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, pedestrians are directed through confined passages, and businesses have vacated the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be dismantled.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the previous Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Work on the building began shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a tight, enclosed passage.

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

In a release, its management said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the structure to inform customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An update to the a city committee in January this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would commence in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the firm has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to dismantle sections of the framework towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to integrate it into the streetscape or develop something more aesthetic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was in progress.

They continued: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and shops.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the complexity and size of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this vital work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "continue to put pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I echo the annoyance of residents and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."