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Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city sits a monolith of construction framework.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors cannot book rooms, pedestrians are directed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

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

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be taken down.

The city's political leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the old local government offices in 2009.

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

Work on the building started not long 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 pavement leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had compelled them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also the location of restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large notices on the framework to remind customers it is open for business.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year stated that the process of "exposing" the exterior would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

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

"We expect starting to remove portions of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we deliver an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for urban works.

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

She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that section exceptionally challenging.

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

Continued Work

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

They added: "We acknowledge the irritations felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This has been a extended and complex process, demonstrating the complexity and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

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

"That said, I also acknowledge that the firm has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has proved to be hugely complex."