Permission granted for Thurrock Crematorium
Thurrock Councillors have voted to support the development of a new crematorium to serve families in Thurrock.
The decision, which was taken on Tuesday night at the council’s planning committee meeting, follows an extensive consultation with local residents carried out by the specialist crematorium developer and operator Elegy. This resulted in the developer submitting a planning application last July. The new crematorium will be built on land to the east of Orsett, to the west of the A128 Brentwood Road.
The Borough does not currently have a crematorium of its own. At the meeting, councillors agreed that a new local service was ‘much needed’ to relieve pressure on Basildon (Pitsea) and South Essex (Upminster). One Councillor describing these facilities as ‘bursting at the seams’.
None of these crematoria are within an acceptable journey time for funeral parties from the main centres of Thurrock. A journey of over 30 minutes for a funeral cortege is considered too long on a difficult day for the bereaved.
Councillors recognised that the design of the proposed new crematorium would blend well into the countryside, with limited impact on views due to the existing woodland and extensive landscaping which is planned for the site.
Richard Evans, Managing Director of Elegy, who has worked in crematoria for over 30 years, said:
“We are delighted that Councillors have recognised the need for a local, modern crematorium to serve Thurrock residents. We will now press on with our plans to ensure that we can start offering a new and better option for bereaved families.’
The state-of-the-art new facility is expected to be completed by November 2027. Landscaping will include formal and informal footpaths, seating areas within woodland glades, tree planting, areas of species-rich wildflower meadow, a screening woodland backdrop on the southern and western sides of the site.
The crematorium’s emissions will be Net Zero from the first year of operation. An additional estimated 55.4 Tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved every year by road users no longer having to travel to a crematorium further away. A cycle path has also been included.
Richard Evans added: ‘We want to create a tranquil, natural place of peace and seclusion with an hour allowed for each service to ensure that every event is personal and individual, free from the sight of other funerals.’