🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's historic capital stands a giant structure of construction framework.

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

Visitors find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through confined passages, and establishments have left the building.

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

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader a city representative has described it as a "blight" on the area, while heritage campaigners say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is transpiring with this notoriously protracted project?

Background Issues

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the a fashion-branded banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building began soon 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 corner of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been compelled single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment Ondine quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said construction activity had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "patrons merited more".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large banners on the structure to notify customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a local authority committee in the start of the year stated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would start in February, with a full removal by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the delay.

"We expect starting to remove parts of the structure towards the end of 2026, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," they said.

"We are collaborating closely with all parties to ensure we deliver an improved site for the local area."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It is making the walking experience in that section very hard.

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

Project Response

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

They stated: "We understand the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the intricacy and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are dedicated to completing this essential work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I understand the frustration of locals and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also acknowledge that the company has a obligation to make the building secure and that this restoration has been hugely complex."