🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of scaffolding.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and the adjacent bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Tourists find no available accommodations, walkers are funneled through narrow walkways, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is happening with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was constructed on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity got underway 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 sidewalk leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and Victoria Terrace have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery a popular spot departed from the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said building work had forced them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a chain – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Delayed Plans

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

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

"We project starting to take down parts of the structure near the finish of next year, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," a statement read.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of preservation association the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

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

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "solutions to beautify the site" was ongoing.

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

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to completing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of locals and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also recognize that the firm has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has proved to be exceptionally difficult."