WORK on a controversial 760-home development on the edge of Bridport will begin later this year, developers have announced.

The Foundry Lea housing scheme on the outskirts of the west Dorset town was finally been given the green light in June after multiple setbacks.

Although agreed in August 2022, the 43-hectare development was never signed off because not all the conditions had been met.

Developers also got off to a rocky start by cutting down an ancient hedgerow they did not own in November 2022. 

Ninety four per cent of the development will be houses and 6 per cent flats, with 70 per cent either three or four-bedroom homes.

Of the overall total, 302 homes will now be classed as affordable.

Seventy per cent of the affordable housing will be for rent (186); and 30 per cent shared ownership (80).

The huge development will also include a primary school, employment space, local retail and community facilities, care home, open space and a new roundabout at Miles Cross on the A35, which campaigners are demanding is carried out before hundreds of new homes are built in Bridport.

Developers Barratt David Wilson and Countryside Partnerships say they are looking to start on site 'in the coming months' and plan to start construction work in the autumn or winter, with preparatory work starting soon. 

They added they are 'in discussion' with the council about how to manage construction traffic when works start.

"We are conscious that residents are concerned at the potential for disruption when work starts at Foundry Lea," developers said.

"We are in discussion with Dorset Council over how the construction process will be managed and will shortly be submitting a plan setting out key details including working hours, routes to site and how we will minimise the impact of construction."

Developers claim that they have commited more than £6million by way of Section 106 funding which will help to build the new primary school and care home, as well as 'additional facilities' at Bridport Medical Centre.

They add that a 'skills academy' will be set up on-site to help local people learn practical construction skills.

However some residents have concerns about the impact of the greenbelt development on the town's resources and infrastructure.

Back in March, developers were quizzed on their proposals from irate locals who claimed the plans would ‘overwhelm’ the market town. 

"Ahead of work commencing in the coming months, we will be issuing the first in a series of newsletters to residents and businesses in the area," Barratt David Wilson and Countryside Partnerships said.

"These newsletters will be the first port of call for information about the project, including details on the development and ways to get in touch with the project team.

"We remain committed to engaging with the community throughout the construction process and beyond."