Plans to build a new 2,700-plot cemetery on the border of the Black Country and Birmingham have been approved.
A total of 2,721 new plots will be built on land between Handsworth Cemetery and Sandwell Park Golf Club off Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, after receiving the approval of Sandwell Council.
The authority’s highways officers had questioned whether the proposed 45 parking spaces would be enough to accommodate funeral services of up to 100 people.
A statement submitted after the concerns were raised said: “The applicant has confirmed that funeral attendance will be limited to a maximum of 100 people.
“Whilst this represents an upper operational cap rather than a typical attendance level, larger services would be managed operationally through advance booking procedures, liaison with funeral directors, on-site marshalling and the use of additional managed parking areas within the site to ensure that parking demand and vehicle movements are appropriately accommodated.”
The cemetery would be built on the site of an old bungalow that became “underutilised and overgrown” after the death of the previous tenant several years ago.
Designs accompanying the application showed the cemetery would border the golf course’s 11th, 13th and 14th holes.
According to the application, the creation of another 2,700 plots on the borough’s green belt would help tackle a “well-recognised” shortage of burial space in the region.
“Recent reports and planning reviews highlight that traditional burial plots are becoming increasingly scarce across England and this pressure is expected to intensify as the population grows and preference for traditional burial persists,” the application said.
“The proposal would deliver approximately 2,721 burial plots, making a meaningful and timely contribution to meeting current and future burial needs within Sandwell and the wider region.
“The cemetery layout has been designed to retain openness, respect existing landscape features, and provide a dignified and tranquil environment.
“Built form is limited to pathways, plots, and landscaping forming the primary site elements.”
By Christian Barnett | Local Democracy Reporting Service
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