NALC opposes government burial proposals

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has opposed some of the government's proposals on burials in its consultation.

The two main changes proposed are to increase the minimum grave size to 5m² (5 metres squared) and retain a 1-metre minimum clearance between the base of a grave and the water table in a cemetery.

NALC opposed these proposals, which would roughly halve the cemetery space available to many local (parish and town) councils, lead to premature closure of many graveyards, and cause problems with residents who pre-purchased family plots.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consulted earlier this year on changes to the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016.

Read the full response