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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a giant structure of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, walkers are directed through narrow walkways, and businesses have vacated the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could stay in place until 2027.

Further Delays

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

The city's political leader Jane Meagher has called it a "negative feature" 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 built on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it initially debuted under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a significant portion of pavement leading up to the corner of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

People on foot going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been compelled one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

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

In a statement, its operators said the ongoing project had compelled them to alter the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts restaurant chain a chain – which has displayed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An report to the a city committee in early this year stated that the process of "uncovering" the exterior would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that will not happen, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to remove parts of the structure close to the conclusion of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of heritage body the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

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

"It is perplexing why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or create something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

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

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are committed to completing this necessary work as soon as is feasible."

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

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

"Nonetheless, I also recognize that the firm has a duty to make the building safe and that this restoration has been exceptionally difficult."