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Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital looms a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

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

Tourists cannot book rooms, walkers are funneled through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

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

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was developed on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense 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 section of the street and a significant portion of footpath leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the project.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a popular spot quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said building work had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts restaurant chain Pizza Express – which has hung large notices on the scaffold to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would begin in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

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

"We project starting to dismantle sections of the scaffold towards the end of 2026, with additional work ongoing after that," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we provide an better site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, lead 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 associated with the project had a "public duty" to minimise disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section really difficult.

"I don't understand why there is not a try to bring it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A project spokesperson said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing.

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

"This has been a extended and complex process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

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

She said: "This scaffolding has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the exasperation of locals and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be exceptionally difficult."