A funding gap in plans for a major new tourist attraction dedicated to the maritime heritage of Greenwich, south east London, has been filled after the DCMS pledged £700,000 towards the scheme.

The grant, which was announced by culture minister Barbara Follett on 16 April, is in addition to the £1.8m awarded to the Greenwich Foundation by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to enable the Discover Greenwich project to become a reality.

Housed at the Old Royal Naval College, plans include an exhibition outlining the history of the site, which dates back to Henry VIII's Tudor Palace and Wren's Royal Hospital for Seamen, as well as its recent use as the Royal Navy's staff college and designation as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

The attraction, which is being developed by the Greenwich Foundation as an interpretative and learning centre, will include a new exhibition hall, a learning suite, a temporary exhibition space and a brasserie and microbrewery will be established in the Pepys Building, the location of the site's former visitor centre.

In addition to the grants from the DCMS and the HLF, the Greenwich Foundation has raised £2.8m to help fund the Discover Greenwich scheme, along with £500,000 from other charitable foundations and individual donations. The attraction is expected to open in 2010.

Follett said: "The Greenwich Foundation's new interpretation and education centre will help navigate their way around the World Heritage Site, and encourage them to learn more about its rich history.

"There is particular emphasis on meeting the needs of school parties with the creation of the Clore Learning Suite, and with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games rapidly approaching, the new tourist information centre that is also part of the project could not be more timely."