Hadrian's Wall Heritage (HWH) has acquired 150 acres (60.7 hectares) of land at Camp Farm in Maryport, Cumbria, as part of plans to establish a new museum at the World Heritage Site.

The £11.5m scheme will involve the excavation of the former Roman fort at Maryport, as well as an adjacent vicus, a civilian settlement that spread outside the fort walls and comprised more than 170 buildings. It is hoped that the museum will be completed by 2012, incorporating galleries investigating the role of Hadrian's Wall, the importance of the Maryport fort in western sea defences, and life at the fort.

Viewing galleries will be provided for visitors to view parts of the dig already in progress, and the museum will also house a collection of Roman military altar stones and Romano-British religious sculpture currently on display at Senhouse Roman Museum next to Camp Farm. HWH chief executive, Linda Tuttiett, said: "This important site has the potential to be developed as a world class museum, throwing more light on the story of Roman life in Britain and the role of Maryport in the frontier system."

The investment in the Camp Farm project was made possible through the support of West Lakes Renaissance and the West Cumbria Development Fund.