🔗 Share this article

On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a giant structure of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Travellers are unable to reserve stays, foot traffic are squeezed through confined passages, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

Restoration efforts began in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Further Delays

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

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom 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 development expense at about thirty million pounds.

Remedial efforts got underway shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been rendered unusable by the project.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been required single-file into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine departed from the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a statement, its owners said building work had compelled them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a chain – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to inform customers it is still open.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year indicated that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" construction issues for the setback.

"We project starting to remove sections of the structure towards the end of next year, with additional work continuing thereafter," they said.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an better site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of conservation group the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

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

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that section really difficult.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to integrate it into the urban landscape or develop something more creative and cutting-edge."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "measures to enhance the appearance the site" was continuing.

They added: "We recognize the frustrations felt by the community and businesses.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the complexity and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are focused on concluding this vital work as soon as is practicable."

The council leader said the council would "maintain pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This framework has been a negative presence for years, and I share the annoyance of locals and local businesses over these persistent hold-ups.

"However, I also acknowledge that the company has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has turned out to be extremely complicated."