🔗 Share this article

Along the busiest tourist streets in the heart of Scotland's historic capital sits a imposing sight of scaffolding.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the corner of a key historic street and George IV Bridge has been a covered eyesore.

Travellers find no available accommodations, foot traffic are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have abandoned the building.

Repair work started in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now fed-up residents have been told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

Extended Timelines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be dismantled.

A local authority figure a city representative has called it a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The 136-bedroom hotel was built on the site of the former Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about thirty million pounds.

Work on the building started soon after the start of the Covid pandemic 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 historic street have been left out of action by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the an adjacent district and another locale have been compelled in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

An eatery a well-known restaurant departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a statement, its management said construction activity had obliged them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a chain – which has displayed large banners on the framework to notify customers it is open for business.

Delayed Plans

An report to the council's transport and environment committee in early this year stated that the process of "exposing" the frontage would begin in February, with a complete dismantling by the end of the year.

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

"We expect starting to remove sections of the scaffold near the finish of next year, with subsequent enhancements ongoing after that," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we create an improved site for the local area."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, lead of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for development.

She said those involved in the project had a "public duty" to reduce disturbance and should blend the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to incorporate it within the urban landscape or develop something more creative and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They added: "We acknowledge the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the intricacy and scale of the restoration required, however we are committed to concluding this vital work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I echo the annoyance of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this repair has turned out to be extremely complicated."