Shay Grange Crematorium opens following £9m upgrade programme

Bradford Council has opened Shay Grange Crematorium in Heaton to replace Nab Wood as its main facility in the North of the district.

The crematorium, which is based off Long Lane, has cost the local council almost £9m as part of a wider programme to upgrade the district’s ageing crematoria. 

The council will also house its bereavement services at the crematorium, and for the first time, all the district’s burial records will be brought together in one location. Some of these records reportedly date as far back as 1857. 

According to the council, the facility was built on a green belt site as it argued this was required due to rules that dictate crematoria “cannot be built close to homes or main roads”.

The facility has a 123-space car park, with spaces for coaches as well as electric car charging points. There are also expansive waiting rooms, as well as private spaces where families can meet funeral directors.

In addition, the building is the first crematorium in the country to feature screens that can divide the room or hide the coffin if families do not want to see it during the service.

Antonio Smith, bereavement services manager at Shay Grange, said: “It allows us to do a service in many different ways – there will be no set format for a service.”

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, executive member for healthy people and places at Bradford Council, added: “This work is the latest step in our strategy to create a modern, sustainable and environment-friendly bereavement service for the people of the district. 

“We want to provide practical, sympathetic, convenient and pleasant surroundings for people when they pay their last respects to their loved ones.”