PLANS to extend Fox Covert Cemetery at Appleton, Warrington, with nearly 600 new burial plots on Green Belt land have been approved by town planners.
The application by Warrington Borough Council involves extending the existing cemetery, which is close to capacity and includes additional car parking facilities.
The site is an agricultural field which is located to the east of Fox Covert Cemetery and to the west of the existing graveyard associated with Hill Cliffe Baptist Church. The site measures approximately 0.6 hectares in area. There are no residential properties adjoining the site, and the immediate area is predominantly rural in character but there are residential properties located to the east of the application site separated by the churchyard and these are located on Red Lane which is located over 30
metres away.
The proposal is for the change of use of the land from agricultural to a cemetery comprising approximately 596 burial plots and a 100m2 area for the scattering of cremated remains with associated 25 parking spaces and access road around the cemetery.
The proposal also includes the creation of an area of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) to the north of the site, along with areas of planting to provide Biodiversity Net Gain.
It also includes the removal of a number of the trees on the boundary with the existing cemetery and there is a fence to separate the SuDs from the cemetery.
The proposal includes prospective locations for memorial benches, a water point and locations for signage.
It is considered that the proposal to provide burial plots and an area for the scattering of cremated remains is appropriate facilities associated with the existing cemetery as it provides additional facilities for residents, as the existing cemetery is close to capacity.
The proposed parking area is associated with all of the existing cemetery as currently the cemetery only benefits from 10 parking spaces, of which 3 of these are disabled parking spaces and the proposal is for the creation of an additional 23 parking spaces.
Planners say the principle of development is acceptable as the proposals would represent appropriate development in the Green Belt.
