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Along the busiest tourist streets in the core of Scotland's ancient city sits a monolith of scaffolding.

For half a decade, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the junction of a key historic street and a major bridge has been a shrouded blight.

Visitors are unable to reserve stays, walkers are funneled through tight corridors, and businesses have vacated the building.

Repair work began in 2020 and was originally estimated to last a few months, but now fed-up residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Further Delays

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

A local authority figure Jane Meagher has called it a "negative feature" on the area, while conservationists say the work is "very troublesome".

What is transpiring with this apparently perpetual project?

A Problematic Past

The sizeable hotel was built on the site of the previous local government offices in 2009.

Figures from when it initially debuted under the a fashion-branded banner, put the build cost at about thirty million pounds.

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

Part of the road and a sizable stretch of footpath leading up to the junction of the tourist drag have been rendered unusable by the work.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and Victoria Terrace have been compelled in a line into a tight, enclosed passage.

A dining establishment a well-known restaurant departed from the building and transferred to another city in 2024.

In a release, its operators said building work had compelled them to modify the restaurant's look, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also the location of dining franchise Pizza Express – which has displayed large banners on the structure to remind customers it is operating as usual.

Slipped Schedules

An communication to the a local authority committee in early this year indicated that the process of "revealing" the façade would commence in February, with a complete dismantling by the year's end.

But SRM has said that will not happen, referencing "exceptionally intricate" building problems for the setback.

"We anticipate starting to remove parts of the structure near the finish of 2026, with further improvements proceeding afterwards," they said.

"Efforts are underway closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an better site for the public."

Community and Heritage Concerns

A heritage director, head of preservation association 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 lessen disturbance and should blend the work into the city's design.

She said: "It renders the walking experience in that part of town very hard.

"It is puzzling why there is not a try to incorporate it within the urban landscape or create something more creative and innovative."

Continued Work

A official statement said work on "ideas to beautify the site" was continuing.

They added: "We recognize the frustrations felt by nearby inhabitants and enterprises.

"This has been a long and drawn-out process, demonstrating the difficulty and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are committed to completing this vital work as soon as is practicable."

Ms Meagher said the local authority would "maintain pressure" on those involved to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a negative presence for years, and I understand the exasperation of residents and nearby shops over these continued delays.

"That said, I also recognize that the contractor has a obligation to make the building safe and that this restoration has proved to be extremely complicated."