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Westerleigh Group has revealed that construction has begun on its new crematorium in North Yorkshire, situated on a 13-acre site near Sand Hutton which is expected to open in late 2026.
Named the North York Crematorium and Memorial Gardens, the facility will also use audio-visual technology from Obitus to allow families to project themes, images and lighting onto the front wall of the chapel during services.
A chapel will also be designed to accommodate 112 seated guests with additional standing room and external screens for larger gatherings. The site includes parking for 127 cars – including accessible spaces – and a moveable catafalque to allow flexible positioning of the coffin during the service.
Project planners stated the building has been designed to minimise visual impact on the local community through natural screening. The grounds will feature a welcome garden with shelters for outdoor assembly and quiet contemplation.
The new site will offer one-hour service slots to prevent overlap between mourners and will include facilities for webcasting and visual tributes.
Ed Lane, managing director of crematoria and cemeteries at Westerleigh, said: “We’re excited to be developing this crematorium in York, introducing the local bereaved communities to the exceptional levels of care Westerleigh Group proudly upholds.
“We’re especially pleased to be able to incorporate the SuperVenue technology into this development and through it, offer the bereaved an option to personalise a final farewell to unprecedented levels. There will be a wide range of canvas options reflecting landscapes, seasons, pastime and even sports to allow families select one that reflects their loved one the most to then frame the service itself.”
He added: “The development of this new crematorium marks an important step in our ongoing investment to ensure communities across the UK have access to high-quality, beautifully-designed, facilities that offer choice, exceptional care, and compassion when it matters the most.”
