What is happening with the Edinburgh hotel made of scaffolding?

In the heart of Scotland's historic capital, one of the busiest tourist streets is dominated by a tower of scaffolding. For the past five years, the Radisson G&V Hotel, located at the junction of Edinburgh's Royal Mile and George IV Bridge, has remained wrapped in plastic, creating an eyesore for locals and visitors alike.

Guests cannot book rooms, pedestrians are forced through narrow walkways, and businesses have vacated the building. Initially planned as a short-term repair project starting in 2020, residents are now being told the scaffolding could stay in place until 2027.

The main contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), indicated that dismantling of the first sections of the scaffolding is not expected until late 2026. Edinburgh council leader Jane Meagher described the site as a "blight," while heritage campaigners criticized the project as "extremely disruptive."

The 136-room hotel, built in 2009 on the former Lothian Regional Council offices, initially opened under the Missoni Hotel brand, with construction costs estimated around 30 million. Work resumed after the onset of the Covid pandemic, and the hotel has been closed to guests since 2022.

A significant portion of the road and pavement near the Royal Mile corner has been blocked, forcing pedestrians traveling between the Lawnmarket and Victoria Terrace to use a narrow, covered walkway. In 2024, seafood restaurant Ondine relocated to St Andrews, citing construction work that negatively affected its interior and customer experience. Pizza Express remains on-site, using large banners on the scaffolding to signal it is still open.

An update from the councils transport and environment committee earlier this year suggested that scaffolding removal would begin in February, with completion by year-end. However, SRM stated that "extremely complex" construction challenges have caused further delays. "We expect to start dismantling scaffold sections towards the end of next year, with continued improvements thereafter," the company said.

Rowan Brown, director of the Cockburn Association, highlighted the city's slow reputation for development and stressed the importance of minimizing disruption. "It is making pedestrian access in this area very difficult," she said, calling for the project to integrate better with the streetscape or adopt a more creative design.

Project representatives mentioned that work on "aesthetic improvements" is ongoing. "We recognize the frustrations of residents and businesses. This has been a lengthy process due to the scale and complexity of the remedial work, but we are committed to completing it as quickly as possible," they said.

Jane Meagher emphasized that the council will continue pressing those responsible to finish the project. "This scaffolding has been a blight for years. While I share the community's frustration, the contractor must ensure the buildings safety, which has proven to be highly complex," she stated.

Author: Zoe Harrison