🔗 Share this article

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a monolith of metal poles and platforms.

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

Tourists find no available accommodations, walkers are squeezed through tight corridors, and establishments have vacated the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was only expected to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could persist until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the first sections of the frame can be removed.

The city's political leader a city representative has described it as a "eyesore" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "extremely disruptive".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

Background Issues

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

Projections from when it originally launched under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Work on the building started 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 significant portion of sidewalk leading up to the corner of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot left the building and transferred to St Andrews in Fife in 2024.

In a comment, its management said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's look, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the scaffold to inform customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a city committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the frontage would start in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But SRM has said that is not the case, pointing to "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We expect starting to take down portions of the scaffold towards the end of the coming year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

"We are collaborating closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A heritage director, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for urban works.

She said those associated with the project had a "public duty" to minimise inconvenience and should incorporate the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the experience for those on foot in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is perplexing why there is not an effort to bring it into the street view or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Project Response

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

They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by the community and shops.

"This represents a extended and complex process, highlighting the difficulty and size of the repair work required, however we are focused on finishing this necessary work as soon as is possible."

The council leader said the local authority would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to complete the project.

She said: "This framework has been a problem for years, and I share the annoyance of residents and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a responsibility to make the building secure and that this restoration has been extremely complicated."