A NEW multi-million pound crematorium is set to open near Bromsgrove.

Wasley Hills Crematorium, developed by Westerleigh Group, is scheduled to open in January next year.

Based on New Inns Lane at the foot of Wasley Hills, the crematorium will be shaped as two interlocking ellipsis and constructed from a steel frame, with masonry and timber cladding and completed with a green roof.

Joy Edgington, site manager at Wasley Hills Crematorium said she is looking forward to helping local families.

“It’s a unique opportunity, being the first manager of a brand-new crematorium,” said Ms Edgington.

“I’m delighted and proud to be here at the start of Waseley Hills Crematorium and excited to have the opportunity to assist local families and give something back to the community.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Joy Edgington.Joy Edgington.

“We want families to know we are here for them not only on the day of a funeral but before and after too.

“We’re keen to support our local community and we also want to help the environment as well. The infinity roof on our chapel is to be a growing roof, which means it will be covered in wild planting, making it invisible from the sky, but also full of flowers for local bees.

“We’ve even got plans to have a nature trail and information posts to let visitors know what to look out for.

“It means visiting our site will enable focused reflection and downtime for families and individuals who just want to escape from the world for 15 minutes or so.”

Permission was granted by Bromsgrove District Council for a cemetery at the site back in 2012 but plans for a crematorium were turned down due to its positioning on Green Belt land.

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After two further applications and two appeals by developers H2Land, permission was granted in July 2019 for a crematorium to be added to the site.