Waltham Forest approves £11m Chingford crematorium despite capacity concerns

Waltham Forest Council has approved the construction of an £11 million crematorium at Chingford Mount Cemetery, despite objections over its necessity and location. The facility, granted planning permission in April 2025, is intended to serve residents who currently face journeys of more than 30 minutes to the nearest crematorium.

Council figures show that 85,000 residents live beyond this travel threshold, equating to approximately 1,625 cremations per year. The decision follows projections that the borough will exhaust its burial space by 2033, as stated by a council spokesperson to MyLondon.

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Council defends need for local facility

A spokesperson for Waltham Forest Council said the new crematorium was necessary to allow residents to pay their respects within the borough. The council’s business case, described as "carefully prepared," included analysis of demand, accessibility, and demographic growth, alongside financial modelling.

The spokesperson added that the location was chosen after an independent needs assessment and an alternative site review. Traffic modelling indicated the facility would add an average of 168 vehicle movements per day to Old Church Road, which currently sees 10,000. Parking for mourners is already available on-site.

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Critics question capacity and location

Dr Brian Parsons, a crematorium expert, has challenged the project’s viability. He told MyLondon that existing crematoria in Enfield, the City of London, Manor Park, and Forest Park handled around 7,000 cremations in 2024, despite capacity for 16,000. The figures were sourced from the Cremation Society of Great Britain.

“The choice of location flew in the face of current practice in the UK.”

Dr Brian Parsons, crematorium expert

Parsons also raised concerns about the financial sustainability of the scheme. He questioned whether families would switch from established crematoria, noting that the council’s projections relied on charging £1,000 per cremation. At full capacity, this would generate £1.625 million annually, but he warned it could take "many years" to recoup costs if discounts were offered.

The location within Chingford Mount Cemetery was described as unorthodox. Parsons said post-war crematoria were typically built in open spaces, away from existing graves, to allow for larger gardens of remembrance. The Chingford site’s gardens, he argued, were limited and surrounded by graves, making them "totally inadequate and inappropriate."

What happens next

The crematorium is scheduled to open later in 2025. Waltham Forest Council has not announced any further public consultation or review of the project’s progress. Residents seeking updates will need to monitor council planning documents or public statements.