Northampton Cemetery spaces are ‘quickly disappearing’ as expansion plan is in place

A cemetery in Northampton is set to be expanded by more than 3,000 places amid a supply crisis.

The proposed Dallington Cemetery expansion is due to be discussed by councilors next week, who will then vote to approve or reject the plans.

It comes amid a projected deficit of spaces in Northampton borough cemeteries which will number in the thousands by 2029.

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A recent survey showed Dallington Cemetery had only 63 adult burial plots and 10 children’s burial plots available as of July 2021.

However, a pre-Covid survey found predicted there would be a shortage of 4,011 burial plots by 2029 in Northampton.

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Plans suggest the current availability at Northampton Cemetery would “disappear quickly”.

But, expanding local cemeteries could help prevent deficiency in years to come.

Council officials said the project would go “significantly” to closing the gap.

Plans submitted call for the conversion of 5.19 hectares of land to a grass cemetery, which will create approximately 3,936 new plots.

A law cemetery is a cemetery that consists of rows of burial plots with headstones but without hard concrete edges or curbs giving a “more natural look”.

The proposed site is vacant land adjacent to the current cemetery and would also see a new access road and an area of ​​land which will be dedicated to wildlife.

West Northamptonshire Council’s Northampton Area Planning Committee will meet next Tuesday, February 8, to debate the designs and vote on whether they should be approved.

A council planning officer has recommended that they be approved subject to a number of conditions.

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