Increase crematorium facilities for London’s diverse faith communities

With over half a million Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist people living in London, there is a need for greater recognition and planning for culturally and religiously appropriate crematorium facilities in London.

The London Assembly has today agreed a motion calling on the Mayor to work with London boroughs, faith organisations, crematorium operators and community representatives to assess existing provision and identify current and future demand for suitable facilities.

Krupesh Hirani AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Still, many families face barriers when trying to arrange a funeral that respects their faith and religious traditions.

“The Assembly wants to see the London Plan recognise the issue and make sure our planning system allows for more culturally and religiously appropriate crematorium facilities.

“Every family deserves to say goodbye to their loved ones in a manner that is consistent with their religious practices. No one should have to navigate avoidable barriers during a time of grief."

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that:

1. London is home to large and diverse Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities, for whom cremation is an important religious and cultural practice with over half a million living in London.
2. Families should be able to observe their religious and cultural funeral traditions with dignity, including ceremonies that allow family members, friends and wider community members to attend.
3. Existing crematorium facilities do not provide the space, facilities or arrangements needed to accommodate particular religious practices and larger gatherings and are inadequate for the community. This can place families under pressure to restrict attendance or compromise elements of important funeral ceremonies.
4. Creating better facilities would also benefit Londoners of other faiths and none who wish to be cremated.
5. Faith organisations and community representatives have raised concerns about the shortage of suitable facilities and the planning barriers faced by those seeking to develop new provision.
6. The Draft London Plan’s approach to rightly look at burial space and the needs of different faith communities provides an opportunity to address this gap explicitly.

This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to:

1. Recognise the current lack of culturally and religiously appropriate crematorium facilities, including facilities suitable for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities, in the London Plan and associated planning guidance.
2. Work with London boroughs, faith organisations, crematorium operators and community representatives to assess existing provision and identify current and future demand for suitable facilities.
3. Encourage boroughs to identify appropriate sites and support well-designed proposals for new or expanded crematorium facilities where there is demonstrated need, subject to relevant planning, environmental, transport and other statutory considerations.
4. Ensure that planning policies give proper consideration to religious and cultural requirements, including the need for adequate space for funeral ceremonies and for family and community attendance.
5. Engage directly with affected faith communities when developing planning policy and guidance, so that their needs are understood and meaningfully reflected in decisions.
6. Make representations to the Government, where necessary, on any national planning or regulatory barriers that prevent the timely provision of appropriate facilities.

This Assembly believes that London’s planning system should recognise the needs of all its communities, including at the end of life. Families should be able to say goodbye to loved ones in a manner consistent with their faith and traditions, with dignity and without avoidable barriers arising from a shortage of suitable facilities.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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