Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery running out of burial space

Brent London Borough Council has said its Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery near Watford has just eight to 10 years before grave space runs out while Watford Borough Council has just 13 years of supply, a Local Democracy Reporting Service investigation has found.

“There is a national shortage of burial space,” said University of Reading deathscapes expert Professor Avril Maddrell. “This is well known and has been well known for a long time.

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“More than three quarters of the population opt for cremation in England and Wales, but even though burials relate to the requests of a quarter of the population, it is still creating a crisis in terms of the availability of land.

"Really, we need a national conversation about cemeteries and crematoria, how they can be used effectively, and what they mean to local communities, families and faith communities. We also need to have a conversation about what they mean in terms of public space, green space and public amenity in other ways.”

The issue has become clear across Hertfordshire, Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, which has 13 years of space left in its two town centre cemeteries, is asking for the same powers that the London boroughs have. With help from East Herts Council, it has asked lawmakers to let them reuse graves after 75 years, as long as the grave owner does not object.

At a Bishop’s Stortford Cemetery Bill reading on Thursday, September 14, the Viscount Stansgate, a Labour peer, told the House of Lords: “This is a bill about cemeteries and running out of space. I think you will find in years to come, my Lords, that more and more cemeteries will be in this position, so we may have further bills of this kind.”

Freedom of information requests show Allum Lane cemetery in Elstree has just one year of space remaining. Hertsmere Borough Council agreed to look at buying new land for a cemetery extension in 2021.

Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery. (Image: Google Street View)

“A lot of local authority cemeteries are full or reaching capacity nationwide,” a Hertsmere spokesperson said. “It is not a statutory requirement to provide burial facilities. Local authorities struggle to predict demand, because it is, by nature, a difficult thing to predict demand for.”

Nettleden with Potten End Parish Council near Hemel Hempstead reported having the most space left - roughly 177 years. Graves at Potten End Burial Ground are available to people who usually live in the parish.

Buntingford Town Council’s Layston Cemetery has at least 100 years left. It opened in May 2021.

Julie Dunk, the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) chief executive, has called for a policy change. “Central government has traditionally taken a hands-off approach and has allowed local authorities and private companies to make provision for burial at a local level,” Ms Dunk said.

Parliament may be urged to look at the future of municipal cemeteries across the country (Image: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

“With pressure on land for building and other purposes increasing, there is limited supply for new burial spaces. Burial needs to remain a local, affordable option for people, so help in the form of planning policies would be ideal, for example if a new housing development is being considered, there should be enough burial space within the area to serve the local population for the foreseeable future.

“Policies to ensure that burial has as little negative impact on the environment as possible would also be welcomed.” Ms Dunk added: “Cemeteries are not only landscapes of mourning, but are also important heritage and ecological assets and need to be maintained according to a conservation management plan.”

The Ministry of Justice looks after burial grounds policy in England. A spokesperson said: “We recognise this is a sensitive issue and are considering whether action may be needed. In the meantime, the Law Commission is looking carefully at the law in this area.”

In 2022, the Law Commission launched a review of cemetery laws which it labelled “outdated”. Professor Nick Hopkins, family law commissioner, said at the time: “Ensuring that our loved ones are treated with dignity and respect after they pass away is something that matters to everyone, whatever their background, culture or belief.

“Current laws are outdated, unclear, and do not protect the wishes of those who have passed away. Our review will consider the merits of a new framework that provides greater legal clarity, and is more responsive to the needs of modern society.”