AN INDEPENDENT investigation into the spiralling costs of Dundee's new V&A Museum has been agreed following revelations that the bill has almost doubled from £45 million to £80m.

Dundee Council chief executive David Martin announced that a review of the project's costs will be carried out by John McClelland, the former chairman of Rangers Football Club and an expert in public procurement and supply chain operations.

The news came as the building's Japanese architect said the cost rise was "surprisingly high".

Kevin Keenan, the leader of Dundee's Labour opposition, said: "Hopefully this review will bring some much needed transparency to this project. We need to know why we were told in late December that the cost would be £45m and then, just a few weeks later, told that it has risen to more than £80m."

The review was announced as councillors approved a funding package to cover the additional costs of the taxpayer-funded project.

Dundee City Council is committing around £6.5m, with the Scottish Government expected to invest some £50m in capital and revenue towards the museum's construction.

The V&A will also receive £500,000 from the UK Government's coastal communities fund, with an additional £4.5m expected to come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has already contributed more than £9m.

An additional £6.6m will be raised from private fundraising.