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Positioned on the most popular thoroughfares in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through confined passages, and businesses have left the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about £30m.

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

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the Royal Mile have been closed off by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery a popular spot left the building and moved to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its management said building work had forced them to alter the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a chain – which has hung large signs on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

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

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

"We project starting to dismantle parts of the scaffold close to the conclusion of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, head of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to minimise disturbance and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that area of the city really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the streetscape or create something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

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

They stated: "We understand the annoyances felt by local residents and enterprises.

"This constitutes a extended and complex process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the repair work required, however we are dedicated to finishing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

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