🔗 Share this article What's Happening with Edinburgh's Scaffolding-Clad Hotel? The metal framework enveloping the hotel on George IV Bridge may not be entirely dismantled until 2027. On one of the most frequented avenues in the core of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre looms a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms. For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore. Visitors are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and establishments have left the building. Repair work started in 2020 and was only expected to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027. Extended Timelines Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the structure can be removed. The city's political leader a city representative has labeled it a "negative feature" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "extremely disruptive". What is happening with this apparently perpetual project? Scaffold-free - how the hotel appears without its covering on the hotel's website. A Problematic Past The sizeable hotel was constructed on the site of the former Lothian Regional Council offices in 2009. Figures from when it first opened under the a designer banner, put the development expense at about thirty million pounds. Remedial efforts started shortly after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022. A section of the street and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been left out of action by the project. Pedestrians going to and from the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace have been required in a line into a confined, sheltered corridor. A dining establishment Ondine departed from the building and moved to another city in 2024. In a release, its owners said building work had compelled them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "patrons merited more". It is also the location of popular eatery Pizza Express – which has hung large signs on the scaffold to inform customers it is still open. Pictures show the the property being built in September 2008 (left) and the project beginning in 2020 (right). Missed Deadlines An update to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "uncovering" the frontage would start in February, with a full removal by the end of the year. But the firm has said that is incorrect, citing "exceptionally intricate" construction issues for the delay. "We expect starting to dismantle sections of the framework towards the end of 2026, with subsequent enhancements proceeding afterwards," a statement read. "We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an enhanced site for the public." Local and Conservation Frustration A conservation official, director of conservation group the a local association, said the work had reinforced the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development. She said those associated with the project had a "obligation to the public" to lessen disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape. She said: "It is making the experience for those on foot in that area of the city exceptionally challenging. "I don't understand why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the streetscape or produce something more artistic and avant-garde." Pedestrians have been required to walk down a confined covered walkway on a section of the road. Project Response A company representative said work on "ideas to enhance the appearance the site" was ongoing. They added: "We recognize the annoyances felt by nearby inhabitants and businesses. "This has been a long and drawn-out process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are committed to concluding this essential work as soon as is possible." The official said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those accountable to finish the project. She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the exasperation of inhabitants and nearby shops over these persistent hold-ups. "That said, I also acknowledge that the contractor has a duty to make the building secure and that this repair has proved to be hugely complex."