More than £2.4 million has been invested to improve facilities and infrastructure in Blandford St Mary and Blandford Forum.

The investment was made by housebuilder Bellway Wessex as part of its development plan for a new 350-home residential area off Bournemouth Road in Blandford St Mary.

The development will see the construction of 207 homes at the St Mary’s Hill site and 143 more homes at the neighbouring St Mary’s View site.

The construction is expected to be completed by the year's end.

269 of the new properties will be available for general sale in the open market, while the remaining 81 will be reserved as affordable housing for residents through shared ownership and low-cost rent initiatives.

Bellway Wessex has allocated the largest portion of the investment, £2,048,592, towards expanding and maintaining schools and other educational facilities in Blandford Forum.

The Cooper statue which has been installed at St Mary’s Hill to celebrate the village’s beer-making heritageThe Cooper statue which has been installed at St Mary’s Hill to celebrate the village’s beer-making heritage (Image: Bellway)

The firm has also designated £250,000 to improve public facilities at the town's community hall, £90,000 for the enhancement of the North Dorset Trailway link, £40,000 for a zebra crossing on Bournemouth Road, and £22,500 to create a new pedestrian link connecting the development site to the Rosefields area.

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."

The company also commissioned a wooden carving of a barrel-making artisan, a nod to the village's brewing history, as part of its commitment to public art.

Ms Putnam 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."

Those interested in these housing developments can seek more information by visiting www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/wessex/st-marys-hill or www.ashberryhomes.co.uk/new-homes/wessex/st-marys-view.