Frequently Asked Questions

When the Neighbourhood Development Plan process started in 2013, Colwall Parish Council Stated:

“The Colwall Neighbourhood Plan is an extraordinary project – a way of allowing the community to shape its future. It is a unique opportunity for the community to decide how it wants the landscape to look, what kind of houses they need, and how they want the community and the parish to develop. It takes power from the centre and gives it back to local people – who know and care so much for their own community and area”.

From the link below you will have access to correspondence and additional documentation which underpins our firm belief that Grovesend Field is an unsuitable choice for development.

Additional information is available in this shared folder

A timeline of the process is available here

Scroll down for more information

The application

Visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk and search for application no. 230457.

Commenting on this application through has closed as the application has been decided.

A village poll on this application took place on Wednesday 14th June '23. The poll was requested at a recent parish meeting by a large number of local residents who were asked: “Do you oppose the development of a new housing estate on the Grovesend Field site in the Conservation Area off Old Church Road?”

The poll is not binding but was held to get a clear understanding of the views of the village. There was an emphatic answer with 92% voting against the proposed development. For full poll results please see here

Contact us on: [email protected]

What are the concerns about sewage?

Colwall has a significant problems with the release of untreated sewage in Cradley Brook. Please see this BBC News article from March 2024 covering releases in 2023, where there were sewage released for 590 hours from an overflow and 1132 hours directly from Cradley Brook.  Details for previous years are further below, this is an ongoing problem, and is only going to be made worse by the large nursing home under development before even considering a substantial numbner of extra houses.
Severn Trent have been very inconsistent in their assessment of the impact of development.
  • Initially they raised no objection but, after being asked for details of their assessment, admitted it had been done on the wrong location (no detail was ever shared).
  • In February 2024 Severn Trent said that there was a ‘high risk of (sewage) pollution’ and objected to the development.
  • Finally (or maybe not?) in March 2024 Severn Trent withdrew its objection saying they weren’t sure about the modelling and that the proposal could be approved as long as a solution is found before first occupation of a dwelling.
This appears to be ‘kicking the can down the road’, and permission should not be granted until the risk of increasing the release of  untreated sewage is mitigated.

Why was the village poll held and what does it mean?

The Poll was requested at a recent Parish Meeting by a large number of local residents. This is a legal process when a large number of people in a local community do not feel listened to or want to raise a specific concern. The poll was related to the proposed development on Grovesend Field which has raised serious concerns from many people in the village. This was an opportunity to offer a democratic, anonymous process in which everyone in the village could have their say. The poll is not binding on anyone but was held to get a clear understanding of the views of the village.
There was an emphatic answer with 92% voting against the proposed development. There are several planning issues which give real cause for concern in regard to this application which are now being pursued and will be presented at the planning committee when the application is heard. 
To be clear the Revised NDP group are not against development and are very conscious of the need for proper affordable housing in the village. We do not believe that the current proposals for Grovesend Field achieves this. We are very keen to include more local opinions in the sort of housing we want and where it should go, and to work in co-operation with the local councils to achieve a solution that really works for local people.

Why has the consultation been extended?

The planning application has received a large number of objections. Including from:

 

  • The Herefordshire Housing Development Officer – “the affordable housing units are small and do not meet the minimum standards as outlined in the Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard. As such I am unable to fully support this application and would look for the applicant to increase the affordable housing unit’s sizes in line with the Government standards”
  • Severn Trent – A holding objection to request further detail on how sewage and foul water will be managed, as well as the need for modelling to understand the effect the proposed development will have on the network
  • A large and growing number of local residents.

Regarding Severn Trent’s objection, it is worth noting that the Colwall Sewage Treatment works seems to be regularly discharging sewage into local waterways prior to treatment from both Colwall CSO & STW stations.

CSO is Combined Sewer Overflow, an overflow to reduce the risk of sewage backing up during heavy rainfall, and STW is the Sewage Treatment Works.

It appears that Severn Trent release large quantities of raw sewage directly into both Cradley Brook (STW discharges) and the upstream tributary that has come down from Luggs Mill (CSO discharge).  The whole site sewage is being pumped directly up to the Old Church Road public sewer that clearly seems unable to cope with existing flows.

The environmental degradation of Cradley Brook and ripple effect into local food chains will be significant and, regardless of location within the village, this raises questions about the addition of more housing until the capacity is increased

Below is a summary of data for the number of hours of sewage discharge in that year.

Sites 2020 (hours) 2021 (hours) 2022 (hours)
Colwall CSO (Trib of Cradley Brook) 399 610 579
Colwall STW (Direct into Cradley Brook) 1482 1756 1361

 

Is Colwall Parish Council listening to the Community?

2015 Consultation

  • Housing on Mill Lane – 90% Support 10% Objection
  • School plus housing on Mill Lane – 91% Support, 9% Objection
  • School on Grovesend Field – 10% Support, 90% Objection

2018 Consultation
Housing on Grovesend Field – 15% Support, 85% Objection

2020 Consultation
Housing on Grovesend Field – 2% Support, 98% Objection

For more information please find link to important correspondence and documents here.

What is the Revised Colwall NDP Group?

The Revised Colwall NDP Group does not believe that the current NDP has been shaped by the views of the community.  See here for a detailed timeline and information on the process and the consultation results.