Crematorium redevelopment works at Reading Crematorium & Henley Road Cemetery, Caversham

“Title PLANNING APPLICATION REPORT Ward Emmer Green Planning Application Reference: PL/25/1679 / REG3 Full planning permission Site Address: READING CREMATORIUM & HENLEY ROAD CEMETERY, 55 ALL HALLOWS ROAD, CAVERSHAM, READING, RG4 5LP Proposed Development Reading crematorium redevelopment phase 2A and associated works for a new staff area, Funeral Director’s collection facilities, installation of a plant room and works to improve courtyard accessibility including retaining…”

“Works comprise: Staff area: Increase internal area by 16 sqm, to improve the staff provision and create a new Funeral Collection point. The current Funeral Collection will be converted to a Plant Room Cremator Room: Two large louvres to be installed in the South gable wall to ventilate the new cremators.”

“These include an extension to the staff area and relocated funeral collection area, plant room relocation, additional of louvres to the cremator room, courtyard works to improve drainage and levels, and external ramps to enhance accessibility. No concerns are raised and planning permission is recommended be approved. Introduction and site description 2.1. The cemetery and crematorium is located at the north end of All Hallows Road in Caversham.”

“The site is located within the North Reading Dry Valleys and Chilterns Escarpment ‘Major Landscape Feature’ as defined by Policy EN13 of the Reading Borough Local Plan (2019) and is within a potential ‘habitat area’ and area of potentially contaminated land. The Proposal 3.1. The proposal seeks full planning permission for various alterations to the main buildings located within the central island where the central crematorium buildings are located.”

“Background 2.3 The current cemetery site was used as farm land up until 1924 when it was purchased by the Reading Corporation “for the purposes of a cemetery or burial ground”. Henley Road Cemetery was opened in 1927 and is the current burial site for the Borough of Reading but also accepts burials from the wider area. There are currently 25,000 graves for full/coffin burials and 3,000 cremation plots for burial of cremated remains, covering an area of 50 Acres (20.2 ha.).”

“The cemetery and crematorium are RBC owned and operated and are located at the north end of All Hallows Road in Caversham. The application site relates to the crematorium building which is located centrally within the cemetery site.”

“The proposal would result in a small change to the appearance of the crematorium buildings sited within the central core. Proposed ramps and skid -resistant paving materials will improve accessibility into the Chapel buildings, with a new path to access the funeral collection point. The expanded staff area is to the rear of the centre and will be sited to the rear of a low brick retaining wall and close board timber fence.”

“In terms of the key equalities protected characteristics it is considered there would be no significant adverse impacts as a result of the development. Conclusion 9.1 The proposal supports an important community facility (Policy OU1) The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in the context of national and local planning policy and other material considerations as set out in this report.”

“As received 18 December 2025 4. Planning history 180752/REG3 Extension to cemetery to provide an additional 1376 burial plots - Granted 180027/PREAPP - Change of use of land to burial plots to extend existing cemetery 171021 – New reception and administration building – Granted 031357 - Extension to provide 3,256 additional grave spaces car parking and boundary railings, on land to the west of the current crematorium – Granted 030010 - Extension to crematorium to provide…”

“RBC Natural Environment (Trees) – No objections, subject to conditions prior to occupation, to secure a soft landscaping scheme with 3 trees to be planted and implementation and maintenance of the landscaping.”

“Public consultation: Two separate site notices were displayed around the application site on 9 December 2025 for the statutory period. No letters of representation received.”

“A verbal update was provided at the meeting confirming that the Environmental Agency (EA) had responded with no objections to the proposals. The EA had requested to be…”

“The Committee was also verbally informed that RBC Ecology had no objections to the application, subject to the approval of appropriate landscaping and lighting conditions. RBC Ecology had confirmed that they were satisfied with the proposed existing landscaping scheme condition, as detailed in the report.”

“That, pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992, planning permission for application PL/25/1679 (REG3/FUL) be authorised, subject to the conditions and informatives as set out in the report, the addition of an informative to note the requirement for the cemetery to operate with an environmental permit, and the addition of two additional conditions relating to lighting to: (i) require warm tone lighting for Type D exterior lights and,…”