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

On one of the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a giant structure of scaffolding.

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

Travellers cannot book rooms, pedestrians are squeezed through narrow walkways, and establishments have left the building.

Remedial work started in 2020 and was initially projected to last a brief duration, but now fed-up residents have been told the framework could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be dismantled.

The city's political leader a council official has described it as a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this seemingly endless project?

Background Issues

The establishment with 136 rooms was built on the site of the former Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009.

Estimates from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the cost of construction at about £30m.

Work on the building got underway soon after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the work.

People on foot going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been compelled in a line into a narrow, covered walkway.

Seafood restaurant a popular spot quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its owners said construction activity had obliged them to alter the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also home to dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has placed large notices on the scaffold to notify customers it is still open.

Slipped Schedules

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

But the contractor has said that will not happen, pointing to "extremely complex" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We anticipate starting to take down portions of the framework near the finish of next year, with further improvements ongoing after that," they said.

"We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an improved site for the public."

Local and Conservation Frustration

A conservation official, head of conservation group the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those associated with the project had a "civic responsibility" to reduce disruption and should incorporate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to bring it into the streetscape or develop something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

A project spokesperson said work on "solutions to aesthetically improve the site" was continuing.

They continued: "We understand the frustrations felt by the community and enterprises.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, highlighting the difficulty and magnitude of the restoration required, however we are committed to finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those involved to finish the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a problem for years, and I understand the exasperation of inhabitants and local businesses over these continued delays.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."