The £15m Sea City Museum project in Southampton has been given the go ahead by the city council, though the council will need to borrow millions of funds to make up a funding shortfall.

The Sea City Museum, which will feature two permanent exhibitions focusing on Southampton’s Titanic story and the city’s role as a gateway to the world, was given £4.6m grant by Heritage Lottery Fund in March, but still needs to find an extra £10m.

Controversially, it had planned to sell £5m of prized artwork, but this idea was scrapped and the council is now going to look towards individual donors and Hampshire County Council to make up the deficit.

Councillor John Hannides, Southampton's cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, told the BBC: "The city council will have a look right across its portfolio of assets to see what can be used to support the project. There are no plans to raise council tax or anything of that nature, this is about raising the funds from capital receipts."

Forming part of Southampton's wider Cultural Quarter development, Sea City Museum will be housed within a converted Grade II-listed Magistrates' Court adjoining the city's Civic Centre.

As recently reported by Leisure Opportunities, the council appointed the Kier Group as the contractor.