Chingford Crematorium

Established in 1884 and acquired by the council in 1977, Chingford Mount Cemetery on Old Church Road, E4 6ST, is a historic site that, while well-loved, requires attention to meet the needs of the community. With approximately eight years’ worth of burial plot space left, urgent action is needed to extend and preserve the life of this well-loved local cemetery.

Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a new crematorium to be built inside the grounds of the cemetery. It will be the first facility of its kind in Waltham Forest, open to all faiths, and will serve residents for generations to come. State-of-the-art filtration equipment will mean it is environmentally friendly and has been designed with care and sensitivity. Visitors will also benefit from a serene chapel and beautifully landscaped gardens, where they can stop and pause for quiet reflection.

At present, residents must travel out of the borough to access cremation services. By bringing all funeral services together at one location we can significantly simplify arrangements for grieving families while providing a seamless and dignified experience during a difficult time. The council is committed to making the borough a fairer and more equal place to live and age well. 

The crematorium will be a high-profile facility with modern technologies including: 

• An 80-seat chapel.
• Two electric cremators: the project incorporates green technologies, reducing environmental impact while ensuring services meet modern standards.
• Support for the local economy: state-of-the-art facilities will create new opportunities for local funeral-related businesses, stimulating the local economy.
• 14 cycle storage spaces.
• Enhanced green spaces: the development will provide tranquil, natural spaces for families to reflect, promoting mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Two electric vehicle charging points.

Our Cemeteries Team ensure our churchyards and burial grounds remain areas of quiet contemplation, whilst promoting the wildlife conservation. The team support the local community with projects that include working with schools and creating heritage trails for local people to explore. They are also currently digitalising records, making it easier to support people researching their family history.

Most recent developments for the service, is that planning permission was granted for the new crematorium at Chingford Mount Cemetery. This new, environmentally friendly facility will begin construction in the summer and ensure the future of the Cemetery. It will provide essential bereavement services and feature a serene chapel and landscaped gardens for peaceful reflection. Completion is expected by the following summer.

Additionally, the team recently achieved the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Charter for the Bereaved, meeting industry standards for the service.

Timeline for development

• Autumn 2024: Two initial drop-in sessions held by the council and their partners to gather feedback and advice from residents. Two follow-up drop-in sessions held to gather feedback and advice from residents and updates to proposals.
• Spring 2024: Crematorium design developed with two additional community engagement sessions held to show residents the proposals based on feedback.
• Autumn 2024: Planning application submitted.
• Winter 2024: Main contractor and specialised Cremator contractor tenders took place with preferred suppliers identified.
• Spring 2025: Planning permission granted with contractor site investigations underway.
• Summer 2025: Main contractor and utility works begin on site.
• Summer 2026: Council takes possession of the new site and holds opening event.

Planning applications

The development’s planning application (reference 242444) were approved by the council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday 2 April 2025.

More information

• The crematorium's opening hours will be between Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.00pm.
• Construction will take place between 8am and 5pm. Any work outside these hours will only occur if agreed in advance with the council, depending on the urgency of the work.
• The crematorium will be over 100 yards from the nearest homes, complying with strict planning and environmental regulations. (Source: London County Council (General Powers) Act 1935 Section 64, and 1971 Section seven).
• Noise assessments have ensured that the design meets planning requirements, with sound levels set at the recommended baseline to minimise sound disruption.
• Each funeral service will generate around 21 vehicles trips. Priority access and over 300 parking spaces will be provided on-site, including dedicated bays for hearses. Nearby, there are 24 pay and display and over 90 unrestricted spaces. This is how traffic will be managed.
• The cemetery is neither consecrated nor subject to any restrictive covenants, as confirmed by the Diocese of Chelmsford.
• The development will include a ceremony hall office space, memorial garden and green features with a size of 568 square metre gross internal area, matching the former temporary mortuary storage provision.
• We respect Chingford Mount Cemetery’s green space and plan to add sustainable drainage, more planting, seating, green screening, and eco-friendly features like a memorial garden incorporating displays of flower tributes, wildlife meadows and bug hotels.
• The crematorium will have minimal emissions, with no smoke or odours, thanks to advanced filtration and green energy use.
• Internment methods, or options for ashes, include mausoleums, columbaria and concrete chambers, or families being able to keep ashes. More options will be included in the phase two landscape proposal.