£11m plans to replace 'ageing' crem progress

PLANS to build a new multi-million-pound crematorium in Derby will take a major step forward next week when councillors will be asked to approve a budget of up to £889,501 to fund the initial design stage, split across two years.

- By ZENA HAWLEY

Last December, Derby City Council announced it was setting aside in the region of £11million to build a new crematorium to replace existing “ageing” Markeaton Crematorium.

The council cabinet is expected to approve the move to creating a successor to the almost 70-year-old facility in Markeaton Lane.

Markeaton Crematorium was built in 1956 and the building, decor and equipment are now reaching the end of their life span.

A report going to the cabinet meeting says that the most urgent concern “being that the site's cremators are beyond end of life and at risk of failure.

“A temporary standalone cremator was installed to provide resilience for the service, but a permanent solution is now needed”

Aneed has also been identified for burial provision in the city as current projections show 10-15 years of future capacity.

This will be added to the scope of the project subject to available finance.