Worcester Council submits report for £6.96m Astwood Crem refurb

Worcester City Council has outlined plans for the refurbishment of Astwood Crematorium, which is expected to cost £6.96m and start in summer 2025 if the policy and resources committee approves the proposals. News follows a public consultation that was held in October to gather views on the refurbishment plans. These views have fed into the report, which is set to be formally considered by the committee next week on Tuesday 17 December. The committee will be asked to back the refurbishment plans, agree to the preparation and submission of a planning application, support the financing of the £6.96m scheme, and set the wheels in motion to appoint a main works contractor. Alongside new, energy-efficient electric cremators, the council has proposed that the scheme includes a refurbishment of the chapel, including extra windows to create improved views of the garden and decoration of the chapel entrance and exit, as well as a complete replacement of the building’s roof. A priority for the council is the replacement of the current three gas-powered cremators with two new electric cremators, which are thought to be the first to be installed in a West Midlands facility. Worcester City Council believes these new cremators will be cheaper to run, and meet regulatory standards on pollution emissions that are about to come into force that apply to both new and existing cremators. In addition, the new cremators will contribute to the council’s environmental sustainability goals, reducing Astwood’s annual carbon emissions by an estimated 173.52 tonnes. According to the report, a larger programme of improvements – which would have involved extending the crematorium building – is not affordable because it would have cost an extra £2.7m. The committee will also be asked to agree to investing approximately £420k in additional improvements that received “strong backing” from residents, funeral directors and other stakeholders in the public consultation. Consideration will also be given to installing solar panels on the new roof to further improve the building’s efficiency. This will be subject to further engineering input and analysis. The project is set to receive a £1.5m grant from Salix, which supports energy-efficiency schemes with Government funds, leaving the city council’s cost at £5.4m. Cllr Lynn Denham, leader of the City Council and chair of the policy and resources committee, said: “This will be a major project and will unavoidably mean some disruption to the crematorium. The Council’s officers are working hard to put temporary arrangements in place that will ensure funeral services can continue to be held in Worcester during the works period. We will also ensure that Astwood Cemetery’s importance as a special place of memory for loved ones is respected at all times. “I am confident that the improvements this will bring to our city’s crematorium will be valued and appreciated by our citizens when they are completed.” While Astwood Cemetery and grounds will remain open throughout the refurbishment period, the crematorium building would be closed until spring 2026.

Worcester Council submits report for £6.96m Astwood Crem refurb

The committee will also be asked to agree to investing some £420k in additional improvements that received ‘strong backing’ from residents and funeral directors

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