Pendle burial ground planned to meet rising demand
A 15-acre plot of council-owned land at Edge End Lane could become a cemetery.
Plans have been put forward to Pendle Council as the existing Nelson cemetery off Walton Lane, the closest of six gravesites in the local area, is reaching full capacity. The burial ground has been operational since 1895.
As the cemetery would also serve the local Muslim community, all plots will be laid out to comply with religious traditions. The existing cemetery in Nelson is the only one in the area with provision for Muslim burials.
The development would occur in two phases, phase one includes the creation of a car park, hard and soft landscaping, and the first burial plots.
Phase two would further extend the cemetery with accompanying hard and soft landscaping. Green space at the site would be made accessible for informal recreation according to planning documents.
Access to the cemetery would be from Halifax Road.
According to The Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, within the next 5 to 10 years, 30% of UK local authorities will have run out of burial space.
Based on local mortality rates, an average of 150 Muslim burials a year could take place at the proposed cemetery.
The project team includes Alpha Consultants, Collington Winter, Wessex Archaeology, Bourne Heritage, landscaper CDS, and JPP.
To view the application, use the planning reference 25/0149/FUL on Pendle Council’s planning portal.
