BRADFORD Council has released the first images of what a new £9.1 million crematorium in Heaton could look like.

Members of the Council’s Executive were shown very early plans of what a new crematorium on a site at Long Lane might look like at a meeting on Tuesday.

At the same meeting, members agreed to move forward with a compulsory purchase order for the site, which is in private ownership.

The facility will replace the existing Nab Wood Crematorium - which the Council says is operating beyond its working life.

Replacement cremators required to meet modern emissions standards would be too big for the current building, and for much of the past year the Council has worked on finding a new site in the North of the district to replace it.

At the Executive meeting Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe assured residents that people would still be able to visit Nab Wood to remember their relatives - even if the crematorium is shut.

Site of planned £9.1 million crematorium in North of the District revealed

She also said the Heaton site was the only location in the Shipley area that was suitable for a Crematorium.

The Cremation Act 1902 prevents the building of a crematorium within 200 yards of a dwelling house, or within 50 yards of any public highway.

The Council had identified just three possible replacement sites for Nab Wood - including, controversially Northcliffe Park in Shipley.

However, after further investigation the Council dropped the park from its shortlist.

At the Executive meeting John Scholefield, Bereavement and Amenity Manager, told members that the Council was negotiating with the owner of the Long Lane site, a large field near Northcliffe Golf Club. However, he asked the Council to move ahead with a compulsory purchase order to ensure the plans for the site could move forward should negotiations stall.

He showed very early plans for the site, including the layout of the crematorium, 250 space car park, garden of remembrance and building holding a book of remembrance. There would be a landscaped walkway from the garden to the crematorium building. Inside there would be a glazed waiting room, chapel for 150 people and a smaller chapel for more intimate services.

A planning application for the site, including more detailed plans and drawings, will be submitted in around three month's time.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: "This is a great facility that will benefit grieving families at a sad moment in their lives.

"Although Nab Wood will no longer be used it will remain open for families.

"This was the only site in the Shipley and Keighley area suitable for a crematorium. It is very difficult to find a site for this kind of facility."

The Executive agreed to a Compulsory Purchase Order for the site if needed.

The site of a second new crematorium in the South of the district, to replace ageing Scholemoor Crematorium, is expected to be revealed in the coming months.