The survey takes five minutes to complete and is being delivered by volunteers to every address across the parish from Thurs 1 Oct onwards. You can return them by posting them in the boxes that are in Colwall Pharmacy, the Post Office and The Colwall Park Hotel reception.
Alternatively, click on the poster on the right to take part in the survey online.
Speak up for Colwall!
Past, present and potential future residents of a Herefordshire village are being urged to “speak up” in a neighbourhood survey which aims to influence the type of housing being built in their community.
Colwall, near Malvern, is earmarked for significant housing development in Herefordshire County Council’s plans for the future.
Recent new-build developments have been controversial because many villagers have felt that the Council and corporate development companies have not given enough recognition to the needs of local people and their concerns for the environment.
As a result, over 200 locals have signed up in support of a new resident-led community group called Colwall Community Right to Build (CCRtB), which aims to use the power of referendum to help shape future decisions about housing in the village.
The group is using Government legislation which allows residents to facilitate small-scale projects for housing or community spaces that put local people first and ensure that any profit from rent or sales stays in the area to fund local public facilities.
Maria Locke whose family have lived in Colwall for over a century says;
“I joined Colwall Community Right to Build because I believe local people should have a real say in what is built in our village. My father was born and lived here all his life, as have I and generations of my family spanning over 100 years, so Colwall means a great deal to me. I was fortunate to grow up in Colwall, but I’ve seen many family and friends unable to stay because they simply couldn’t afford to. We’re not against development, but we need truly “affordable” and social-rent homes for future generations, for local people with Colwall connections. We will protect the environment and land, character and community which makes Colwall so special.”
The Chair of CCRtB group is Adrian Mealing, he says;
“This survey is the first step in our ambition to create affordable & sustainable housing opportunities for people with Colwall connections. It will give everyone with links to the village an opportunity to say what type of housing they need and current residents an opportunity to share their views on where any future homes might be built. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the way that the village develops and we hope everyone eligible will take part and speak up for Colwall!”
Anyone with links to the parish of Colwall can participate in the survey. This includes people who currently live in or grew up in the village; those who went to or have children currently attending Colwall Primary School, people who have family living in the village and people who work in Colwall.
Paper copies of the CCRtB survey will be delivered door to door in the village, please return these to survey post boxes at The Pharmacy, Post Office or Colwall Park Hotel reception. Mark your envelope ‘Colwall Survey’. Or you can fill it in online using this link Colwall Community Right to Build Housing Needs Survey 2026 or the QR code at the bottom of the page. Surveys are also available by visiting the CCRtB website www.ccrtb.org or the Facebook page where you will find more information about the group and an invitation to become a member.
The survey will close for responses at midnight on Monday, November 30th, 2026, and the results will be shared on the website, Facebook page and at a village meeting to be held within three months of the closing date.