Faversham crematorium seeks approval for 480 burial plots after resolving environmental concerns, aiming to meet high demand
First Crematorium in Town Plans to Offer Burial Services
A town’s first crematorium has revived plans to offer burial services. The facility’s bosses say plots on its land are in high demand.
The Faversham and Mid Kent Crematorium in Staplestreet cost £6 million to build before opening in 2023. This was despite concerns over its location and objections from a rival operator.
Proposal for Burial Plots
The crematorium is looking to offer burial plots. When it first proposed the project in 2020, funeral firm Memoria hoped to include burial services at the site.
However, the company had to change the scheme to satisfy the Environment Agency (EA). Now, officials are satisfied that groundwater flooding will not be an issue, despite the area’s history.
Memoria has revealed its bid for 480 interment plots. In papers submitted to Swale Borough Council, the crematorium and memorial park stated: “Memoria is regularly asked whether there are any burial plots available at the site.”
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost of Facility | £6 million |
| Opening Year | 2023 |
| Proposed Burial Plots | 480 |
| Area for Burials | 0.60 acres |
| Current Services per Year | 1,000 |
| Proposed Burials per Year | 20 to 30 |
| Public Support in Consultation | 60% |
The proposal seeks to repurpose about 0.60 acres of green space within the existing 10-acre site for traditional burials. One of Memoria’s directors, Jamieson Hodgson, stated that his company has been searching for a site in Kent since 2009.
The facility currently hosts about 1,000 services a year and aims to facilitate 20 to 30 burials a year. Bosses say the number of services will not change, so there will be no extra impact on traffic, and no new buildings are needed.
Memoria plans to plant more hedgerows and improve the pond, but these landscaping projects are not expected to cause any disruption. Traffic concerns were raised by surrounding parish councils during the original planning process. They stressed that the existing narrow road network through Staplestreet and Hernhill is unsuitable for more vehicles.
However, Memoria says a consultation conducted in 2020 received 52 responses, with 60% of the public expressing “full or qualified support.”
