£4.25 MILLION CREMATORIUM AND MEMORIAL GARDENS SET TO OPEN IN SPRING 2018
Work is currently in progress on a £4.25m crematorium and memorial gardens in South Derbyshire after Harris Lamb was tasked with overseeing the construction of the scheme by Dignity Funerals limited.
Having secured planning permission for the 650 sq m crematorium, including a 140-seat chapel, located north of Aston on Trent, the Building Consultancy team was instructed by Dignity to provide project management and cost consultancy services for the construction of the new building.
The project includes an extensive and attractive landscaping scheme, incorporating significant water features.
Clegg Construction was the successful contractor based on a competitive design and build procurement route, which delivered a contract sum within one per cent of Harris Lamb’s feasibility estimate and incorporates named-subcontractors for the more challenging and architecturally-critical elemental packages.
Kevin Scrivener, of Harris Lamb’s Building Consultancy team, said: “This is a ground-breaking project for the business, being located within the Green Belt. Our planning team sensitively managed the planning process and worked with the Local Authority to ensure that the development was sympathetic to the rural, agricultural setting.
“We were subsequently delighted to be instructed to oversee the delivery of the project, which will be completed within a 48-week contract period, having commenced earlier this year.
“In addition to the crematorium and chapel themselves, we will oversee the extensive planting works with the express requirement of fulfilling the requirement of ensuring that the site is in keeping with the local environment and offers a mature ‘greened-up’ appearance upon opening, irrespective of the time of year.
“The project itself is of a very high architectural merit, with challenging detailing and services installations both internally and externally, including the protecting and designing-around a high pressure gas main running across site,” he explained.
The extensive project includes coordinating with specialist sub-contractors, installing a cremator, audio visual system and bespoke furniture within the building, whilst ensuring that the relationship with the landlord farmer is not compromised during the works.
The project is expected to be completed in time for a Spring 2018 opening date.
Stuart Cox, corporate communications manager for Dignity, said: “Trent Valley Crematorium will reduce the time a bereaved family has to wait for the funeral to take place, as the existing crematorium in Derby is one of the busiest in the UK.
“The site is closer than the existing crematorium for 130,000 residents and this will result in reduced journey times for them. The new crematorium has capacity for six funeral services per day at hourly intervals, which contrasts with 40 minutes at the nearest crematorium,” he explained.