Tourist attractions from Aberdeen to St Andrews will all benefit from the presence of the V&A in Dundee, it has been claimed.
Lesley Knox, chairwoman of Design Dundee Ltd, the company charged with bringing the £45 million waterfront project to fruition, said it will act like a magnet drawing people to north-east Scotland once it is completed although many people have expressed doubts Dundee will be able to successfully complete the project.
She said the museum will showcase a number of Scottish objects housed in the V&A in London and host rotating “blockbuster” exhibits and collections from the parent museum.
Ms Knox said criticisms about the cost and feasibility of the project were grounded in prejudice rather than fact, and “being successful” will be the best way to prove people wrong.
“The thing about blockbuster exhibitions is people will have to come back,” she said.
“But if they spend two days in Dundee they won’t spend it all at the V&A, they will go elsewhere too.
“Fife, Perth, St Andrews and Aberdeen the V&A will bring people who will then go to see other things in those areas.”
Ms Knox said the Heritage Lottery Funding announced last week will lead to a surge in private backers coming forward as funding is only awarded after the viability of a project has been thoroughly investigated.
She said: “What the Heritage Lottery Fund means is that a lot of private-sector investors rely on them to kick the tyres and make sure the project is sound financially.
“If you ask anybody else who has gone through it (applying for Heritage Lottery Funding) it is a long process because you really have to dot the Is and cross the Ts.”
Ms Knox added that although construction will be completed in 2016, getting the exhibition spaces completed and filled inside will mean it is 2017 before the V&A at Dundee opens.
The project, budgeted at £45m, has secured a £15m commitment from the Scottish Government, £8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £6.7m of private funding for construction costs.
It is expected £15m will be raised from grant awarding bodies such as the Heritage Lottery and another £15m from private backers a record amount being sought for a Scottish project.
Ms Knox said the fundraising is still on target, despite the vast sums involved.
“The £15m private funding is the biggest ever private funding that has been done, particularly in what is a small area,” she said.
“There is more to get and more we need to do but it is still on track.
“We have had fantastic support in terms of people who have never given money before and that will be good for all charities. Once someone gives money, they discover how great it is.
“We have also had tremendous support from local trusts and had one amazing donation from the family of someone who died but said they wanted to leave some money for the V&A.”
The V&A was originally supposed to have been built out over the Tay but plans were revised so the bulk of the building will be on land, a move Ms Knox said will make the building more secure.
“The reason it is on land is because of security,” she said.
“We did all the tests there is no doubt that taking things further out on to the water increases the risk.”
Ms Knox said she is also confident the V&A will be delivered on budget.
Four companies have been shortlisted for the work but it is understood Design Dundee is looking to appoint a contractor with a “significant local presence”.
The V&A will also incur significant running costs once it is completed an estimated £3.5m a year but Ms Knox said sponsorship of touring exhibitions and other revenues will help to meet these costs.