Decision details

To consider a proposal to meet demand for burial space in the Western Wards.

Holly Hill Cemetery is the only open cemetery serving the Western Wards of the Borough and there are currently no burial plots available.  Officers have been investigating opportunities to establish new cemetery provision on land in the vicinity.

Consideration was given to developing a new cemetery on the Coldeast site on the land adjacent to the new Holly Hill Leisure Centre as part of the proposals to provide community infrastructure on the site.  However, a feasibility study concluded that it was not cost effective to construct a new cemetery at this location.

A feasibility study has been completed to consider the potential to extend the existing Holly Hill Cemetery.  This has concluded that the site is suitable for a cemetery and meets the requirements of the Environment Agency, but would require the removal of some trees and vegetation.

Careful consideration has been given to the design of a cemetery extension which includes retaining the significant trees on the site.  The design provides 377 burial plots which are considered sufficient to last for approximately 30 years at the current rate of demand for burials.

To construct the cemetery extension a budget of £300,000 will be required and it will take approximately two years to complete.  Further works will be undertaken to provide additional tree planting and landscaping on the cemetery site and land adjacent to the Holly Hill Leisure Centre to mitigate the loss of trees that will need to be removed.

RESOLVED that the Executive:-

(a)  agrees to the provision of an extension to the Holly Hill Cemetery; and

(b)  approves a budget of £300,000 to construct the cemetery extension.