Developers have offered 'reparations' after wrongly knocking down an ancient hedgerow on the edge of Bridport when starting work on a 760-home development.

They have offered to reinstate the hedgerow, including 'semi-mature replacement trees' and 'native hedgerow species'.

The community voiced its outrage after the vegetation was destroyed by contractors in November, prompting an apology from Barratt Homes and Vistry Group.

The major housing scheme, located at Vearse Farm just off West Road and to be known as Foundry Lea, gained planning permission in August.

The vegetation - containing trees and shrubs - was not located on proposed development land and instead planted on land belonging to Sir Philip Colfox, who said he was 'deeply saddened'.

Bridport Town Council hosted an emergency meeting with developers and stakeholders on December 5 in the aftermath of the mistake.

At the meeting, developers set out 'weaknesses in the administrative, communications, and supervision processes' that led to the error.

They set out work they are doing to ensure there is no repeat and how they plan to reinstate the hedgerow, including 'semi-mature replacement trees' and 'native hedgerow species'. 

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

The developers also offered other forms of reparation, including working with authorities to train people in the skills needed to re-use the wrongly removed trees, sending staff to carry out community volunteering activities, and working with schools to design 'hedgehog houses and highways’.

Bridport Town Council leader, Cllr Dave Rickard, said: “We are of course very unhappy with what has happened and made this clear to the developers. 

"We accept that the deeply saddening devastation was as a result of a series of mistakes and omissions rather than any deliberate act, but it was a poor start to their work in Bridport and it must not be allowed to happen again. 

"We welcome the commitment to reinstatement of the hedgerow and the other compensatory actions – and have been reassured that these will not be funded from money to be used for the development itself. 

"We have also received a commitment to better communications with local residents, and regular schedules so that we can see what works to expect in future.”

Separate discussions with Sir Philip Colfox are ongoing, the council added.