Publication Date: 23-08-2024 09:00
Bellway invests more than £2.4 million in education and infrastructure as part of Blandford St Mary development
Bellway Wessex has provided more than £2.4 million to fund improvements to facilities and infrastructure in Blandford St Mary and Blandford Forum.
The housebuilder has made the investment as part of the planning agreement for its 350-home development off Bournemouth Road in the village of Blandford St Mary.
Bellway 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.
A total of 269 properties across the two developments are being built for sale on the open market, with the remaining 81 being provided as affordable housing for local people through low-cost rent and shared ownership. So far, 105 homes have been sold at St Mary’s Hill with 81 having been purchased at St Mary’s View.
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.”
As part of its commitment to providing public art at the development, Bellway 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.”
For more information about St Mary’s Hill, call 01258 787550 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/wessex/st-marys-hill.
For more information about St Mary’s View, call 01202 139742 or visit https://www.ashberryhomes.co.uk/new-homes/wessex/st-marys-view.
