What's Happening with Edinburgh's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel?

On one of the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's ancient city sits a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

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

Visitors cannot book rooms, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a council official has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the former regional authority offices in 2009.

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

Construction activity got underway not long after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and another locale have been forced one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a statement, its operators said construction activity had compelled them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An report to the a city committee in early this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the façade would begin in February, with a full removal by the year's end.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "highly complicated" structural challenges for the delay.

"We project starting to remove sections of the framework near the finish of 2026, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," they said.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

A conservation official, head of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disruption and should integrate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the streetscape or create something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They added: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses.

"This constitutes a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the complexity and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are focused on concluding this essential work as soon as is possible."

The official said the city would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to complete the project.

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the frustration of locals and area enterprises over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also appreciate that the contractor has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has been hugely complex."