05 June 2007
Plans to allow the reuse of burial grounds have been given the go-ahead to provide space for burials in the coming years.
The plans follow a public consultation that showed there is widespread public support for reforming and modernising the burial system,
The plans are announced at the same time as survey shows that there is approximately an average of 30 years left before space runs out in burial grounds in England and Wales. In some urban areas, the time is less. For example, in London the average is 12 years of useable space left.
The plans open the door to local authorities reusing graves, but only where they are over 100 years old and the permission of the family has been sought.
In April 2006, the Government published responses to the consultation 'Burial law and policy in the 21st century'.
Notes to Editors
1. The Ministry of Justice today published 'Burial law and policy in the 21st century: the way forward' and a report on the burial grounds survey.
2. On 7 April 2006 the DCA published the consultation 'Burial law and policy in the 21st century'.
3. Any further media enquiries on this news release should be directed to Michael Duncan at the Ministry of Justice Press Office on Tel. 020 7210 8803.
4. Each year approximately 500,000 pe ople die. While most of them are cremated, around 150,000 people are buried.
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