The Situation with the Capital's Plastic-Shrouded Hotel?

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

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of the famous Royal Mile and a major bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Visitors find no available accommodations, pedestrians are funneled through tight corridors, and commercial tenants have vacated the building.

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

Further Delays

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), the lead company, says it will be "near the finish" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the scaffold can be removed.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has labeled it a "blight" on the area, while preservation advocates say the work is "very troublesome".

What is going on with this apparently perpetual project?

A Troubled History

The establishment with 136 rooms was developed on the site of the old regional authority offices in 2009.

Projections from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Remedial efforts started shortly after the start of the global health crisis with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a sizable stretch of pavement leading up to the intersection of the Royal Mile have been left out of action by the development.

Pedestrians going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been compelled one after another into a confined, sheltered corridor.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant quit the building and transferred to a different location in 2024.

In a comment, its operators said building work had compelled them to modify the restaurant's facade, adding that "guests were entitled to a superior experience".

It is also hosts popular eatery Pizza Express – which has placed large banners on the structure to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An update to the a local authority committee in January this year stated that the process of "exposing" the façade would commence in February, with a full removal by the close of the year.

But the firm has said that is not the case, citing "highly complicated" construction issues for the postponement.

"We expect starting to remove sections of the framework close to the conclusion of next year, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure we create an better site for the community."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, director of preservation association the Cockburn Association, said the work had added to the city's reputation of being "protracted" for development.

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

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 some attempt to integrate it into the street view or produce something more artistic and innovative."

Project Response

A company representative said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was ongoing.

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

"This has been a lengthy and protracted process, reflecting the difficulty and scale of the remedial work required, however we are focused on finishing this vital work as soon as is possible."

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

She said: "This structure has been a problem for years, and I share the exasperation of residents and nearby shops over these ongoing postponements.

"That said, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building structurally sound and that this repair has proved to be extremely complicated."