V & A £30m Over Budget

The V & A in Dundee is £30m over budget and 18 months behind schedule. The shocking revelation was made during a press briefing at Dundee City Council earlier. The museum was originally expected to open as part of the £1 billion waterfront redevelopment in 2017 at a cost of £49m. At the same meeting, officials were keen to stress the economic benefits of the project. An estimated 4,800 FTE jobs will be created as a result of the development of the Central Waterfront area. Councillor Ken Guild, Dundee City Council leader of the administration and convener of policy and resources, said: "This is a crucial development in the aspirational project to provide Dundee and Scotland with a world-class museum which will help to provide jobs and wider economic benefits.

"Building the V&A Museum of Design Dundee will help attract further investment into Dundee and we expect to see new hotels, retail housing, office and commercial developments coming to the city. "We are already experiencing unprecedented levels of investor interest in Dundee and the city’s ongoing and ambitious regeneration will reach another level when the construction phase begins. “The council and its partners believe that the time is right to press ahead and deliver for Dundee. We have seen the results of similar projects across Scotland and the world and I want to see those benefits come to our city. “This major investment in the V&A Museum of Design will have real worth for the future of our city. "I am confident that we can deliver this project for a unique building to the new timescales and budget, and we will be able to do this without causing any impact on other important council services.”Phil Long, director of V&A at Dundee, said: Dundee City Council's leadership in driving forward the development of V&A Dundee is very welcome indeed, as is the continuing support of Scottish Government and other partners to bring this world-class institution into being.

"Dundee and many from across Scotland are looking forward to having the first-ever purpose-built design museum in the UK outside London.

"People are already benefiting from the prospect of V&A Dundee, getting involved in our pre-opening activities and exhibitions or experiencing the increased confidence it is helping develop in the city.

"Dundee deserves this important and transformational investment.''