The planning application for a major refurbishment of Worcester Crematorium has been submitted.
If approved, the central feature of the revamp of the Astwood Road site will be the installation of new electric cremators. There would also be a new roof, heat recovery system, charging points for electric cars, and improvements to the grounds to boost biodiversity.
The application will be considered by Worcester City Council’s Planning Committee in coming weeks.
“If planning permission is granted, this will be the greenest crematorium in the West Midlands when it reopens next year, significantly reducing the site’s carbon footprint,” said Councillor Lynn Denham, Leader of Worcester City Council, which operates Worcester Crematorium and Cemetery.
“All the energy used at the site will be from sustainable sources. The electricity that drives the cremators will be from the City Council’s sustainable suppliers, and additional energy generated by the cremators will heat the building and its water.
“Improvements to the cemetery grounds will also bring a biodiversity net gain to a much-loved location that has already secured the prestigious Green Flag award.
“Importantly, this refurbishment – if approved – will make the Crematorium an even more welcoming place that provides the appropriate atmosphere for people to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.”
The project is set to receive a £1.4 million grant awarded through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This supports energy-efficiency projects, and is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix.
The key features of the refurbishment of Astwood Crematorium, as set out in the planning application, are:
· Two new electric cremators installed to replace the current three gas-powered ones
· Refurbishment of the chapel
· A new chapel garden, with a Japanese theme
· An extension to the window area that looks out from the chapel to that garden, bringing in more natural light and making the new garden more of a focal point
· New furniture, fittings and equipment in the chapel
· Landscaping improvements to boost biodiversity at the Green Flag award-winning cemetery grounds, creating a net gain in biodiversity
· A heat recovery system, to re-use energy from the new cremators to warm the building
· A new thermally-improved roof for the entire building
· Electric charging points in two parking bays
· Associated structural enabling work to support the installation of the new cremators.
If planning permission is approved, the target start date for the refurbishment work will be August. It will last for around nine months, during which time the Crematorium building will be closed.
The Cemetery grounds will remain open to visitors throughout the construction period. Arrangements are being developed to allow funeral services to continue to be held in Worcester while the refurbishment is carried out. More information about these will be announced in the near future.
Read the planning application here.
A three-week statutory consultation is now underway, giving residents and other interested parties the chance to have their say on the proposals.
