Derby can shape Markeaton’s future at free 3 October event

Derby residents, visitors and businesses can examine plans for a new Markeaton Crematorium at a free, in-person consultation on Saturday 3 October. The session runs from 10am to 1pm at Derby City Lab.

Derby City Council is inviting attendees to comment on the proposed building, its facilities and the way it would serve families and the wider community. Feedback gathered at the event will be considered as the plans develop.

A three-hour window to inspect the plans

The Derby City Lab session will give people an opportunity to view the proposals and respond in person. It is open to residents, visitors and businesses, including those interested in the design, sustainability measures, memorial spaces or provision for different faiths and cultural practices.

Attendance is free. No separate booking process, venue street address, transport guidance or event accessibility information is included in the supplied event details, so prospective attendees should check the council’s latest information before travelling.

What could change at Markeaton Crematorium

Markeaton Crematorium has served Derby since opening in 1956. The council says decades of use have left the existing building’s layout and facilities dated, prompting plans for a purpose-built replacement on neighbouring council-owned land beside the current site.

The proposed building would provide a calm setting with accessible facilities and spaces for reflection. Its design would also take account of different faiths and cultural practices, allowing consultation participants to consider both the appearance of the building and how its rooms and facilities would work for those using them.

Environmental measures form another part of the proposal. The new crematorium would include modern, energy-efficient cremators and air-filtration systems, alongside measures intended to support biodiversity and manage water sustainably.

Memorial windows and gardens form part of the proposal

The plans extend beyond construction of the new building. Memorial stained-glass windows in the existing crematorium, originally funded by public donations, would be carefully removed and incorporated into the replacement facility.

Under the proposal, the existing crematorium building would be demolished. The memorials, gardens and ash-scattering areas on the original site would be protected and maintained, while a connection between the old and new sites would allow the current grounds to continue serving as a memorial and ash-scattering garden.

These details give consultation attendees several specific areas on which to comment: the look and atmosphere of the new building, the proposed facilities, the treatment of memorial features and the relationship between the new crematorium and the established grounds.

Online comments remain open until 18 November

Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure, said the consultation is intended to let residents, visitors, stakeholders and businesses help shape the facility. He said dignity, respect and compassion sit at the centre of the plans.

People unable to attend Derby City Lab can view the consultation through Let’s Talk Derby. The online consultation remains open until Wednesday 18 November, giving the public another route to examine the proposals and submit feedback before the council develops the plans further.

Source: Derby City Council