Bishop's Stortford Town Council has announced plans to reuse over 900 grave plots in the town's Old Cemetery to address a critical shortage of burial space projected to occur by 2036. The council identified 1,068 burial records, some dating back to 1855 and including infants, for potential reuse. None of these graves have seen a burial since 1949.
Unprecedented Powers Granted
This initiative is made possible by unprecedented powers granted under the Bishop's Stortford Cemetery Act 2024 and approval from the Diocese of St Albans. This makes the council the only authority outside London with such parliamentary powers, eliminating the need for special government permission.
Respectful Process
Council leader Miriam Swainston assured that affected sites will be treated with the utmost respect. Relatives have until 15 October 2026 to lodge an objection, which would prevent reuse for at least 25 years.
National Context
This local decision follows a Law Commission report earlier this year, which recommended a mandatory 100-year period between interments and reuse. The report also called for wider reforms to allow more burial ground operators across England and Wales to reuse graves with government approval.
