A BUILDING firm has provided more than £2.4 million to fund improvements to facilities and infrastructure in Blandford St Mary and Blandford Forum.

Bellway Wessex made the investment as part of the planning agreement for its 350-home development off Bournemouth Road in Blandford St Mary.

The firm is building 207 homes at its St Mary’s Hill site and is also delivering a further 143 properties at neighbouring St Mary’s View under its Ashberry Homes brand.

Building work here is set to complete on both sites by the end of the year.

The largest contribution made by Bellway is the £2,048,592 it has provided to fund the expansion and maintenance of local schools and other educational facilities in Blandford Forum.

The developer has also paid £250,000 towards public facilities at the community hall in the town, £90,000 for the enhancement of the North Dorset Trailway link, £40,000 towards a zebra crossing on Bournemouth Road and £22,500 to create a new pedestrian link from the site to the Rosefields area nearby.

Emily Putnam, sales manager at Bellway Wessex, said: “The £2.4 million in funding we have provided through the planning agreement represents a significant investment in local services and infrastructure which will benefit new residents and the wider community.

“While the vast majority of the money has been allocated to local schools, the other contributions have helped to make the roads safer for pedestrians, enhanced an existing off-road cycle route to encourage the use of greener forms of transport, and improved facilities at a popular meeting place for community groups.”

Bellway has also commissioned the creation of a wooden carving of a barrel-making artisan - a cooper - at the entrance to St Mary’s Hill to celebrate the village’s brewing history.

Blandford St Mary has been associated with beer-making since Hall & Woodhouse opened its brewery on Bournemouth Road in 1900.

Emily said: “The Cooper statue, which has been carved from oak by Dorset sculptor Lee Dickenson, has quickly become a talking point among residents and visitors to the development and is much-loved by all our staff at the site.

“This wonderful carving is a fine example of how public art can celebrate the heritage of a place and help to instil a sense of local pride and identity, especially among residents who are new to an area.”