A £6.96 million upgrade to Astwood Crematorium is a step closer following a report by Worcester City Council.
Alongside new, energy-efficient electric cremators, work includes a refurbishment of the chapel, including additional windows to create improved views of the serenity garden, decoration of the chapel entrance and exit and a new roof.
Views from a public consultation held in October have fed into the report that will be considered by the policy and resources committee on December 17.
The committee will be asked to back the refurbishment plans and set the wheels in motion to appoint a main works contractor.
The report says that a proposed programme of £2.7million additional improvements to extend the crematorium building is not affordable.
At the heart of the plan is the replacement of the current three gas-powered cremators with two new electric cremators, thought to be the first to be installed in a West Midlands crematorium.
These will be cheaper to run and meet new regulatory standards on pollution emissions as well as providing a continuing income stream to the council.
The new cremators will make an important contribution to the council’s commitment towards environmental sustainability, reducing Astwood’s annual estimated carbon emissions by an estimated 173.52 tonnes – equivalent to around 768,385 miles of petrol vehicle driving.
The core refurbishment programme will also include a heat recovery system that involves the re-use of energy from the new cremators to warm the building.
The project is set to receive a £1.5 million grant from Salix, which supports energy-efficiency schemes with Government funds with the city council contributing £5.4 million.
Councillor Lynn Denham, leader of the city council and chair of the policy and resources committee, said: “We know that Astwood Crematorium provides a critically important and much valued service to the people of Worcester.
“People engaged passionately and thoughtfully with the recent public consultation and I am pleased that we have been able to accommodate many of the suggestions and issues that were raised.
She said that the project will inevitably mean some disruption to the crematorium but the officers were working to put temporary arrangements in place to 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,” added.
If approved, work is expected to start on site in summer 2025, with the crematorium building closed until spring 2026. Astwood Cemetery and grounds, however, will remain open throughout the refurbishment period.
