The £45 million V&A at Dundee project has been given the final go-ahead by the city council.
A revised planning application for the design museum at the central waterfront was approved unanimously by councillors on Monday evening.
Although a vital step, it took only a few seconds to complete as there were no questions and no debate.
Members of the development management committee had before them a report by planning officers, which said the offshoot of London’s V&A Museum would “celebrate Scotland’s historic importance in design” and host major exhibitions.
The report said: “The V&A at Dundee project will provide dedicated exhibition space, interpretation and a range of activities that will allow diverse audiences to see, explore, understand and be inspired by creative evolution and their design heritage, in a way that makes it physically and intellectually accessible.”
The 8,500 sq m museum is expected to attract up to 500,000 visitors a year and is the centrepiece of the waterfront redevelopment.
The planners said: “The existing context surrounding the site will radically change as a result of the approved masterplan and will, therefore, provide a very different backdrop to the site of the V&A at Dundee.
“The masterplan includes the demolition of the Olympia Leisure Centre, Hilton Hotel and casino and Tayside House. The reshaping of the current traffic road layout will enhance the relationship between the city centre and the River Tay.
“The railway station is also under development. The V&A at Dundee will have the most prominent position in this ambitious scheme, helping redefine impressions of the city.”
No car park will be created as officers believe there are enough public car parks within walking distance but there will be a drop-off point for disabled visitors.
Scottish Natural Heritage has been consulted because part of the building will jut out into the river and has the potential to affect wildlife. Mitigation measures will be put in place during construction.
The design will also take into account the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s call for it to be flood-resistant although the planners noted that the floor level would be 5m above the river.
Another key part of the project is filling in the adjacent Craig Harbour, which will see Discovery put into dry dock.
It is the demise of one much-disliked Dundee landmark that is laying the foundations for the birth of a successor. Rubble from the demolished Tayside House is being poured into the harbour.
The V&A is due to open in 2016 and Gill Poulter, heritage director of the Discovery Point maritime centre’s owners Dundee Heritage Trust, said there would eventually be huge advantages to the arrival of its neighbour.
“At the moment it is difficult to judge if it is having an impact. I don’t think anyone can deny it will be amazing, with the new infrastructure, civic spaces and the V&A.”
Putting the Discovery in dry dock will also allow the public to see the full ship and appreciate its scale, she added.