National Museums of Liverpool (NML) in the UK has appointed US-based theme park and exhibition designer, BRC Imagination Arts, to produce the master plan for the Museum of Liverpool.

The new museum will showcase the social history and popular culture of the city and will be one of the city’s centrepieces as Liverpool takes over the title of European Capital of Culture for 2008.

The Museum of Liverpool will include a 10,600sq m (113,900sq ft) main building and a 4,200sq m (45,500sq ft) gallery.

There will also be a 1,100sq m (11,900sq ft) community space with learning zones and resource centres. Other facilities will include a restaurant, café and retail areas.

Bob Rogers, chief executive of BRC, said: “We will work together with the museum staff and architect 3XN to make this the best history museum in the world.”

The project has secured backing from the Northwest Regional Development Agency for a £40m grant to help fund the scheme.