The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded the V&A at Dundee £9.4m of funding.

Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, V&A at Dundee is also the flagship for Dundee's ambitious plans for its waterfront redevelopment.

The HLF grant will primarily support the capital costs of the building, in particular the development of its Scottish Design Galleries dedicated to Scotland's outstanding design heritage, as well as its ambitious education work across the country.

Philip Long, Director of V&A at Dundee, said the announcement highlighted the importance of having the HLF's approval for the project. He explained: "Today's news underlines just how far the project has come. HLF have scrutinised our proposal from top to bottom so this award is a massive vote of confidence in the project.


"The new institution is a partnership between the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum, the Universities of Abertay and Dundee, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise. HLF's award is the result of more than two years of work from across this creative partnership, to whom we are indebted.

"Scotland's achievement in design is world-class and centuries old. The development of V&A at Dundee will for the first time provide Scotland with a dedicated centre to celebrate that achievement, as well as a place to see and understand the design creativity of other countries and cultures.

"I'm especially excited by the way in which V&A at Dundee will work with communities, designers and businesses nationwide, taking inspiration from our heritage to inspire new creativity and enterprise. We are now looking forward to being on site and getting on with our pre-opening programme across the country."

Dame Seona Reid, Deputy Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, added: "The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to start 2014 with good news for Dundee and good news for Scotland. For hundreds of years Scots have made their mark in the world of international design.

"V&A at Dundee can now present this rich seam of talent to the world, in a stunning building which itself reflects the international cutting-edge design which will also be presented."

The construction of V&A at Dundee is on schedule for a site start in the summer.

It is hoped the building will be completed in late 2016, with the first full year of programming in 2017.

(JP/CD)