A feasibility study outlining plans to establish a sister site for London's Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum as part of a new waterfront development in Dundee, Scotland, has been discussed at a two-day conference.

The independent study, which was commissioned by the Universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise and carried out by Whetstone Partners and Conran Group, examined the potential impact of the £42m scheme on Scottish creative industries and local tourism. It is hoped that a new landmark building would house the proposed new V&A facility, acting as a national hub for contemporary arts and inspired by the city's modern art and design heritage, including comics, animation and computer gaming.

The report said: "Dundee should celebrate being the birthplace of Grand Theft Auto as well as The Beano. If curated carefully, to avoid nostalgia or parochialism, these two themes could provide a useful bridge to popular culture." Among the guest speakers at the 'V&A at Dundee: Making it happen' event was Mark Jones, director of the museum, as well as representatives from the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

Sir Alan Langlands, principle and vice-chancellor of the University of Dundee, said: "V&A at Dundee demonstrates a breadth and depth of vision for the city of Dundee which will have major economic development benefits for Tayside. "Bringing the V&A to Dundee builds on the significant creative and digital talent already present in the city through Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and Whit Space at University of Abertay, as well as complementing the city's long heritage in comics and illustration and its newer and vital digital industries."

It is anticipated that work could start in the second quarter of 2011, with the new venue set to include around 6,200sq m (66,736sq ft) of internal floor area comprising permanent and temporary galleries of varying sizes, an auditorium, a hospitality suite and an extensive foyer. If the plans for V&A at Dundee are realised, the new venue could open in autumn 2013.

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