With burial space running out across England and Wales, cemeteries are turning to the reuse of old graves to avert a crisis. The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium in Epping Forest has already contacted hundreds of families about private graves unused for more than 75 years, leading to more than 30 plots being reallocated. In another area, remains from over 1,000 public graves have been exhumed to create new plots, 360 of which are already in use.
A recent audit by the Greater London Authority found eight boroughs are completely full, with another 10 facing a critical shortage expected within a decade. The problem extends nationwide, with cemeteries in Leeds, Surrey, Lincolnshire, and Rhyl also under pressure. Dr Julie Rugg from the University of York's Cemetery Research Group advocates a return to the Victorian tradition of reusing graves after about 100 years, when remains have fully decomposed.
Despite rules introduced in London in 2007 allowing 'lift and deepen'—where old remains are removed, the grave deepened, and remains replaced to allow more burials—no London borough has used these powers. Instead, interim measures such as demolishing chapels and clearing planted areas have been adopted, which critics say damage cemetery landscapes. Tim Morris of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management warns that 'authorities who have run out of space are removing paths and planted areas to use them for burial.'
Gary Burks, superintendent at the City of London Cemetery, believes public opposition is a myth, noting that after an article about reuse went viral, he received no complaints. 'Nobody wants to be the one in front of the camera when it happens,' he said. 'We are all risk averse.' The Ministry of Justice has offered guidance but says it is 'looking into what other options could be available' and will give 'careful consideration before any decisions are made.'
