Policy S7 — Burial space

Policy S7 Burial space A When preparing Development Plans, boroughs should ensure provision is made for the different burial needs and requirements of London’s communities, including for those groups for whom burial is the only option. This should be informed by a needs assessment of burial space, including an audit of existing provision and opportunities for the re-use of burial space. Cross-borough and/or sub-regional working is encouraged where appropriate to identify and address the requirements of these groups and to tackle burial space shortages within the sub-region. B Development proposals for new burial provision should be supported. This may include provision in one borough to assist faith groups from another borough that are facing burial space shortages. Development proposals resulting in the loss of burial provision should only be supported if it can be demonstrated that there is no ongoing or future demand. 5.7.1 In assessing the requirements for burial space, a borough’s needs assessment should take account of the fact that different faith groups have different needs for burial provision . In London, the demand for burial space for particular faith groups is not always well matched with the availability of burial space. Some boroughs have little or no burial space available. [93] For inner London boroughs, this requires them to seek provision in outer London or beyond. This can cause problems of access and cost which has a disproportionate effect on London’s poorest communities. It also risks undermining community cohesion and social integration. 5.7.2 To address these issues, the principle of proximity is supported as a general rule to provide burial space near residents, reducing costs/travel time to visit burial sites. However, there may be cases where meeting the needs of residents in one borough may require burial provision to be located in another borough. This may require a sub-regional collaborative approach to the provision of burial space, which in turn should inform a borough’s assessment of current cemetery demand and site allocations for cemeteries in their Development Plans. The use of cross-borough agreements for collaboration are encouraged. 5.7.3 The re-use of graves can provide some additional capacity. Both Section 74 of the Local Authorities Act 2007 and Section 25 of the Burial Act 1857 allow for the re-use of graves in certain circumstances and boroughs are encouraged to actively examine the potential that re-use offers them. The unique heritage and archaeological qualities of cemeteries should be taken into account when providing additional capacity in existing cemeteries. 5.7.4 Ensuring that community and cultural facilities and services required to meet local needs are planned for and provided is one of the core principles of the planning system. Evidence demonstrates that the shortage of burial space in London is reaching a critical stage in many boroughs. [94] Boroughs should therefore retain their existing provision, unless it can be demonstrated there is no ongoing or future demand. A borough’s needs assessment should be used to inform this decision. The construction of new buildings in the Green Belt is inappropriate except for a limited number of uses. These include provision of appropriate facilities for cemeteries as long as they preserve the openness of the Green belt and do not conflict with the purposes of including land within it. This also applies to Metropolitan Open Land. 5.7.5 When making new provision, boroughs are encouraged to take into account the Mayor’s broader aims for green infrastructure and the natural environment , including, but not limited to, the creation of new parks and open spaces, the enhancement of existing open spaces and natural environments, and the provision of enhanced links to London’s green infrastructure. New burial provision that supports environmentally friendly burial practices such as woodland or parkland burial grounds can offer broad burial provision as well as wider public access. Amenity provision and environmental enhancements should be encouraged. 5.7.6 Boroughs should continue to make traditional burial provision but innovative approaches to the provision of community burial space, particularly in inner London, may also need to be taken. These could include creating public gardens for the burial of ashes on underused pockets of open land, parkland and brownfield land. Such gardens could also offer broader community utility, improved amenity provision and environmental enhancement. Navigation [82] NHS Workforce Statistics, NHS, April 2018 https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/nhs-workforce-statistics---april-2018 [83] The NHS Long Term Plan (NHS England, January 2019) [84] General Practice Forward View, NHS England, 2016, https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/gpfv.pdf [85] Breaking down barriers to better health and care, NHS England, June 2018 [86] Demand for childcare in London – drivers and Projections, GLA, March 2018 [87] 2018 GLA School Place Demand Projections, GLA Intelligence Unit, 2018 [88] Department for Education and Education Funding Agency SEND and alternative provision: area guidelines, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-and-alternative-provision-area-guidelines [89] https://maps.london.gov.uk/schools/ [90] Notes on area guidelines for mainstream schools: BB103, Education Funding Agency, 2015, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mainstream-schools-area-guidelines/area-planning-for-maintained-schools [91] Strategic Assessment of Need: Swimming Pools, Sports Halls and Artificial Grass Pitch provision in London 2017-2041 Facilities Planning Model, Sport England, July 2017 [92] ‘Large-scale’ should be taken to mean developments that fall within Category 1B, Part 1 of The Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008, unless a development plan provides a local definition. [93] An Audit oLondon Plan Policy S7 · official source →