London burial space to run out in 17 boroughs by 2040, City Hall audit shows

Barnet Council faces a deadline to secure new burial space as London runs out of graves. A City Hall audit, reported by the Enfield Dispatch, shows 17 boroughs will have no space left by 2040. Camden, Hackney and Tower Hamlets already have none.

The audit warns that demand will rise as the population ages. The Office for National Statistics projects 40.9% of Londoners will be 65 or older by 2040. Barnet’s older population is growing faster than the London average, according to council demographic reports.

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Council urged to reuse graves and expand sites

The draft London Plan tells councils to plan for burial space now. It advises reusing graves over a century old and increasing grave depth to allow multiple burials. It also suggests using ‘grey-belt’ land, low-quality Green Belt sites, for new cemeteries.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Hina Bokhari told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the crisis will leave families unable to bury loved ones near home. She said the Mayor of London must use his powers to coordinate a London-wide response.

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“There is a real crisis point now that if we don’t face this issue now, there will be families at an increasing rate that are going to have the most devastating news of their loved one passing away, but then finding out that they can’t actually bury their loved one where they live.”

Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat London Assembly member

Bokhari wants councils to explore their own land first before considering Green Belt sites. She said unused council land unsuitable for housing could be used for cemeteries. A Liberal Democrat bill in the House of Lords would require councils to guarantee burial space in local plans.

Barnet’s current provision unclear

Barnet Council did not respond to requests for its current burial capacity or plans for expansion. The City Hall audit shows nine boroughs already rely on out-of-borough provision due to lack of space. It is unclear if Barnet is among them.

The council’s Local Plan, adopted in 2023, does not mention burial space. The draft London Plan advises councils to include it in future updates. A council spokesperson told the Barnet Press they are reviewing the audit’s recommendations.

What happens next

Barnet Council must decide whether to expand existing cemeteries, reuse old graves or identify new sites. The draft London Plan encourages councils to work together to share space. The Liberal Democrat bill, if passed, would make burial space a legal requirement in local plans.

Residents can respond to the council’s Local Plan review, which closes for comments on 30 September 2026. The council has not said when it will publish its burial space strategy.