Eight possible new cemetery sites being considered

Eight potential new cemetery sites have been identified in Sheffield as the city's council seeks to relieve "increasing pressure" on burial space.

Sheffield City Council said it had six to eight years of space left across the city and as little as three years for Muslim burials.

The locations of the potential new sites have not been revealed ahead of a meeting to discuss progress in the council's search on Wednesday.

A council spokesperson said feasibility studies would be carried out at the locations as part of its next steps, with a decision expected by summer.

A report published ahead of the meeting said six out of 16 cemeteries in Sheffield had no new grave spaces available, with "increasing pressure" on remaining space.

The report said the south of the city faced the most significant pressure, "where most of our cemeteries are full".

According to the report, the council had considered extending existing cemeteries and examined all council-owned land over five acres in size as part of its search for new locations.

The council said the search for new burial space had been "prioritised" after it received a petition from members of the city's Muslim community last year.

The issue is of particular concern as Muslims bury their dead and burials must take place as soon as possible.

Sheffield City Council is responsible for 16 cemeteries, one garden of remembrance and two crematoria.

About 3,000 cremations and 800 burials take place across these sites each year, the local authority said.

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