Ministers should investigate the spiralling costs of one of Scotland's most prestigious new buildings, it has been claimed.

The call came after it emerged the landmark V&A museum on Dundee's waterfront has risen dramatically from £49m to more than £80m.

Leading Scottish architects have described the escalating costs and delays of the project, an ambitious design by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, as a "fiasco".

Scottish Labour asked how an "SNP led council and the SNP Government" had allowed the budget of what was hoped to be an iconic museum to spiral so dramatically.

The building, which will show exhibits from the V&A in London as well as a permanent exhibition of the history of Scottish design, is a key part of Dundee's £1bn waterfront regeneration project but now will open a year late, in 2018.

A new report by the city's director of development shows that the project, to be built by BAM Construction Ltd, is now costed at £31m above its previously approved budget.

The city's council is now in urgent discussions with the Scottish Government, which still backs the plan, over a request for extra funding totalling £22.6m.

So far, the council has only secured £39.9m for the building, and now will have to ask for further Lottery funds, secure private funds of more than £6m, and use £6.5m from council resources to raise the total bill of £80.1m.

The report said that the cost rise was driven by "the highly complex nature of the building's structure" and "the unprecedented levels of construction inflation impacting on the tender process, which are much higher than any regional inflation indices would suggest".

It also warns that if building does not start in March this year, "the construction contract will be delayed by at least a further 6 months with consequent impacts on the Museum's opening date and on inflation to the construction costs."

Claire Baker, Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, called for the inquiry.

She said: "The people of Dundee need an inquiry into how the SNP led council and the SNP government at Holyrood have allowed this to happen.

"Everything must be done, by all relevant bodies, to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum and timescales kept. Questions must also be asked as to why there has been such a substantial rise in cost and delay to the museum."

She said the government must "fully commit" to the scheme.

Dundee Labour group leader, councillor Kevin Keenan, said: "I want to see a successful project brought to fruition that brings jobs to the people of Dundee.

"I am very, very concerned that the risk still appears to lie with Dundee City Council and the hard pressed council tax payers of Dundee."

Professor Alan Dunlop, one of Scotland's leading architects, said that the situation was a "fiasco" and laid part of the blame at the organisers of the museum, who chose the ambitious Kuma design, which has already been altered significantly.

He said: "It is a fiasco, but it is entirely predictable I am afraid.

"From the start it seemed obvious that the cost would rise. I feel sorry for Charlie Sutherland [Scottish architect short listed for the project] but they went for the superstar Japanese architect.

"You have to believe Dundee will have to make it work - it would be a disaster for the city if it does not, but it is a fiasco and it has to be asked whether the costs will go up again.

"I am very unhappy about it, it does not show Scotland or how we handle architectural competitions in a good light."

Sutherland, of Sutherland Hussey, based in Edinburgh, said: "After four years of design development, design reviews, cost cutting, moving site, value engineering, postponement and procrastination by a raft of design and cost consultants the conclusion that the awarded design is double the original cost is not really a surprise to anyone involved in the competition process.

"What a fiasco."

Councillor Ken Guild, leader of Dundee City Council, said the project will bring jobs and an estimated £11m boost to the city, and added: "The council and its partners believe that the time is right to press ahead and deliver for Dundee."

A Scottish Government spokesman said the V&A will be an "iconic statement at the heart of the Dundee Waterfront development" which will create jobs and contribute to the regeneration of the city.

He added: "The Scottish Government is firmly committed to supporting this important project. The Scottish Government is currently involved in discussions with the project board about how the identified funding shortfall can be addressed.

"All partners remain committed to working together to ensure the delivery, success and long-term sustainability of the project."