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

On one of the most popular thoroughfares in the core of Scotland's ancient city stands a imposing sight of metal poles and platforms.

For the past 60 months, Radisson's G&V Hotel on the intersection of a key historic street and the adjacent bridge has been a plastic-wrapped eyesore.

Travellers cannot book rooms, pedestrians are funneled through narrow walkways, and establishments have abandoned the building.

Restoration efforts commenced in 2020 and was initially projected to last a short period, but now exasperated residents have been told the structure could remain until 2027.

Extended Timelines

The main contractor, the lead company, says it will be "towards the end" of 2026 before the initial parts of the scaffold can be removed.

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

What is happening with this seemingly endless project?

A Problematic Past

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

Estimates from when it first opened under the Missoni Hotel banner, put the development expense at about a significant sum.

Construction activity got underway shortly after the start of the Covid pandemic with the hotel itself closed to guests since 2022.

A section of the street and a large section of pavement leading up to the corner of the historic street have been left out of action by the development.

People on foot going to and from the a nearby area and a neighboring street have been forced single-file into a confined, sheltered corridor.

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

In a statement, its management said building work had obliged them to change the restaurant's appearance, adding that "customers deserved better".

It is also hosts dining franchise a pizza restaurant – which has placed large signs on the framework to inform customers it is open for business.

Missed Deadlines

An communication to the a city committee in the start of the year suggested that the process of "exposing" the frontage would commence in February, with a total takedown by the end of the year.

But the contractor has said that is incorrect, citing "extremely complex" structural challenges for the postponement.

"We expect starting to take down portions of the scaffold towards the end of next year, with further improvements continuing thereafter," the company commented.

"We are working closely with everyone involved to ensure we provide an improved site for the community."

Local and Conservation Frustration

Rowan Brown, head of heritage body the Cockburn Association, said the work had contributed to the city's reputation of being "slow" for construction projects.

She said those working on the project had a "civic responsibility" to minimise disruption and should integrate the work into the city's aesthetic.

She said: "It causes the walking experience in that section exceptionally challenging.

"It is puzzling why there is not some attempt to incorporate it within the street view or produce something more creative and innovative."

Ongoing Efforts

A official statement said work on "ideas to aesthetically improve the site" was ongoing.

They continued: "We acknowledge the frustrations felt by local residents and businesses.

"This represents a extended and complex process, demonstrating the intricacy and magnitude of the remedial work required, however we are dedicated to completing this necessary work as soon as is practicable."

The official said the council would "continue to put pressure" on those accountable to wrap up the project.

She said: "This structure has been a blight for years, and I share the exasperation of locals and area enterprises over these ongoing postponements.

"However, I also recognize that the company has a responsibility to make the building safe and that this repair has been extremely complicated."