🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's ancient city sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For five years, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of the famous Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, foot traffic are squeezed through tight corridors, and businesses have left the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a brief duration, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be taken down.

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

What is going on with this seemingly endless project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the former local government offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the development.

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

A dining establishment a popular spot quit the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had forced them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to dining franchise a chain – which has placed large signs on the scaffold to notify customers it is operating as usual.

Delayed Plans

An update to the a city committee in January this year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the façade would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the close of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down parts of the framework near the finish of the coming year, with additional work continuing thereafter," the company commented.

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

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, lead of heritage body the a local association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to lessen inconvenience and should integrate the work into the city's design.

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

"I don't understand why there is not an effort to integrate it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and innovative."

Project Response

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

They stated: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the intricacy and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are focused on completing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

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

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I echo the exasperation of residents and local businesses over these ongoing postponements.

"Nonetheless, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a duty to make the building secure and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."