Wellingborough crematorium site ground-breaking ceremony

A ground-breaking ceremony will take place on Tuesday 21 July to mark the start of work on Wellingborough Council’s new crematorium.

Main contractor Wates Construction is now on the 11-acre site near Great Doddington carrying out the first phase of works to build the £5.5m facility.

Representatives from both Wellingborough Council and Wates will attend the ceremony on Tuesday for photo and interview opportunities.

The crematorium project was first discussed by councillors back in 2011. After extensive research and consultation, detailed planning permission was unanimously granted in January this year. The facility is on track to be opened next summer.

Leader of Wellingborough Council, Cllr Paul Bell, said: “It’s great to see work begin on this project. This is a facility that is welcomed by everyone we’ve spoken to.

“We’re really pleased with the final plans. We’ll have a modern building with the latest equipment, but blending into the landscape and set in gardens and woodland, with beautiful views over the valley.

“To see those plans start to become reality is very exciting.”

Richard Scarrott, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Midlands, said: “We have worked closely with the council to develop plans for the new crematorium, which has given us a thorough understanding of their vision for a building that is sympathetic to the surrounding landscape. We are keen to ensure that this project creates lasting benefit for the local community, part of which is our appointment of local suppliers and sub-contractors to support our project delivery.”

The project will see the creation of a new 465 sq m crematorium facility with a 120-seat chapel, a 98-space car park and external landscaping, including an area for floral tributes.

The cost of the project – around £1.3m for the land and £4.2m for the build – is being met out of the council’s capital budget, which is money in the bank saved for large-scale projects that benefit the community and provide investment opportunities. Capital funds can’t by law be used to pay for day-to-day services, but income generated from capital projects can.

Cllr Bell added: “We set aside the capital budget for this project as it’s not only something people have told us they want, but because it will also bring in an income. We can use this to help provide services in the borough.”

The project has been procured through the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa), which is managed by Scape and was established in 2008 by local authorities to improve the cost-efficiency of property services for local communities.

Alan Coole, head of empa, said: “This is a key project for the people of Wellingborough who will benefit from this new facility once it’s complete. By working closely with public-sector bodies like Wellingborough Council we can help make sure the council receives the best value for money possible through our approved construction partners that use local employers and supply chains.

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Nene Valley Crematorium - Donation to Charity

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The team at Nene Valley Crematorium have raised £12,000 for a local charity, MIND. North Northamptonshire Council’s company operated crematorium serves the community of Wellingborough, and beyond. MIND provides frontline mental health and wellbeing services. The raised funds will be utilised to allow hundreds of people to access crucial support services that can be lifesaving, including, counselling, crisis support, one-to-one support, encompassing support groups and peer support. On behalf of the Company’s Chair for the Board of Directors, Councillor Paul Bell, responsible for Wellingborough Bereavement Services, a cheque was presented on Tuesday 20 June 2023 by the Operations Director (and NNC’s Assistant Director for Regulatory Services), Iain Smith to MIND’s Business Development Director, Dion Hunt. These funds are a result of the crematorium’s membership with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, who have adopted a recycling of metals policy via a European company, OrthoMetals.