Plans approved for temporary cremator at Sunderland Crematorium

Sunderland City Council submitted proposals for an extra cremator at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery in 2019.

The temporary equipment will be housed inside a container at the rear of the existing crematorium with a 7.6m flue and plywood hoardings.

A report, prepared for councillors, states the plans will “ensure business continuity, protect the operation of the crematorium and mitigate against the risk of delays to customers”.

It goes on to say: “The development is considered to be of an acceptable design, subject to colour and screening to minimise the visual impact against the host premises, whilst operating as a contingency to the main extraction unit of the crematorium.”

Sunderland City Council’s area Development Control Sub-committee approved the plans on March 2.

Under planning permission, the structure can remain on site until September 30, 2022, with the option to renew.

Principal planning officer, Toni Sambridge said the plans complied with all relevant policies.

She told the meeting: “In terms of the crematorium, you will be aware there has been a few applications over recent months for different things.

“This [plan] is purely to put resilience in before the comprehensive redevelopment scheme comes forward.”

As previously reported, council bosses have earmarked £7.5million for a replacement city crematorium with “extended parking facilities.”

Spending plans include £1.5million in 2020/21 and £6million in 2021/22.

This forms part of the council’s capital programme which is due to be signed off at the council’s annual budget meeting on Wednesday, March 4.