What's Happening with the Capital's Scaffold-Wrapped Hotel?

Positioned on the busiest tourist streets in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Tourists are unable to reserve stays, walkers are directed through confined passages, and businesses have abandoned the building.

Remedial work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a short period, but now frustrated residents have been told the scaffolding could persist until 2027.

Prolonged Deadlines

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the primary firm, says it will be "close to the conclusion" of 2026 before the initial parts of the structure can be taken down.

The city's political leader a council official has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

Background Issues

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

Figures from when it originally launched under the a designer banner, put the build cost at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts began not long after the start of the coronavirus outbreak with the hotel itself shut for business since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the intersection of the historic street have been closed off by the work.

Walkers going to and from the an adjacent district and a neighboring street have been forced in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

An eatery Ondine quit the building and moved to another city in 2024.

In a release, its operators said the ongoing project had obliged them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has displayed large banners on the scaffold to remind customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the council's transport and environment committee in January this year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would commence in February, with a total takedown by the year's end.

But the contractor has said that is not the case, citing "extremely complex" building problems for the postponement.

"We expect starting to dismantle parts of the structure near the finish of the coming year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are collaborating closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we deliver an enhanced site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

Rowan Brown, lead of heritage body the an advocacy group, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "leisurely" for construction projects.

She said those involved in the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise disturbance and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the pedestrian experience in that section very hard.

"I don't understand why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more artistic and avant-garde."

Continued Work

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

They added: "We understand the frustrations felt by the community and shops.

"This represents a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the restoration required, however we are focused on completing this vital work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the council would "keep applying pressure" on those responsible to wrap up the project.

She said: "This scaffolding has been a blight for years, and I echo the annoyance of residents and area enterprises over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building structurally sound and that this restoration has turned out to be exceptionally difficult."