🔗 Share this article

On one of the most frequented avenues in the centre of Scotland's heritage-rich city centre stands a imposing sight of construction framework.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a covered eyesore.

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

Repair work commenced in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now exasperated residents have been told the framework could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

The construction firm, the main contractor, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the earliest portions of the frame can be taken down.

Edinburgh's council leader Jane Meagher has called it a "blight" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "highly inconvenient".

What is going on with this notoriously protracted project?

A Troubled History

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

Figures from when it initially debuted under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway soon after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself not accepting visitors since 2022.

A lane of traffic and a large section of sidewalk leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

Walkers going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been required one after another into a narrow, covered walkway.

A dining establishment a popular spot departed from the building and relocated to another city in 2024.

In a release, its owners said building work had forced them to alter the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also home to popular eatery a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the framework to inform customers it is operating as usual.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a city committee in January this year suggested that the process of "exposing" the exterior would start in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, pointing to "highly complicated" building problems for the delay.

"We expect starting to take down portions of the structure towards the end of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," a statement read.

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

Community and Heritage Concerns

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

She said those working on the project had a "public duty" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's streetscape.

She said: "It is making the pedestrian experience in that area of the city exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the urban landscape or produce something more aesthetic and avant-garde."

Ongoing Efforts

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

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

"This has been a extended and complex process, demonstrating the intricacy and size of the restoration required, however we are focused on concluding this essential work as soon as is possible."

Ms Meagher said the city would "maintain pressure" on those responsible to finish the project.

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

"Nonetheless, I also appreciate that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this remediation has been extremely complicated."