Work has begun to build a new £11.9 million crematorium at Heaton.
Robertson Construction has been appointed as the main contractor and groundworks are already underway.
Once complete it will be a replacement for Nab Wood crematorium.
The development is part of a major shake-up of Bradford’s bereavement services, which will also see a new £14.8m crematorium in Bierley, Oakworth Crematorium being refurbished, and the already completed enlargement of the Muslim burial ground at Scholemoor Cemetery.
The new crematoria will all include the installation of mercury filtering technology.
The Council said the work was necessary as all three of its existing crematoria were operating past their use by date, and the ovens did not meet newer emission targets.
Around 3,000 cremations each year are currently carried out at three crematoria managed by Bradford Council.
Plan to replace District's three crematoria to rise in cost by almost £7m
The district’s existing six cremators, three at Scholemoor, two at Nab Wood and one at Oakworth, are over 20 years old and operating well beyond the manufacturer’s stated working life. This has led to breakdowns and maintenance costs rising due to their age and the increasing cost of replacement parts.
The crematoria buildings are all over 100 years old with Scholemoor built in 1905 as the only purpose-built crematorium. All the existing sites have limited facilities and capacity, particularly within the chapels.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, executive member for healthy people and places, said: “This work is the latest step in our strategy to create a modern, sustainable and environment-friendly bereavement service for the people of the district.
“It is a significant investment in future bereavement services operated by the local authority.
“We need to progress these works due to the age of the existing facilities which are working well beyond their recommended life span and which do not conform to modern environmental standards.
“We want to provide practical, sympathetic, convenient and pleasant surroundings for people when they pay their last respects to their loved ones.”
Duncan Reeves, operations director, Robertson Construction Yorkshire and East Midlands, said: “We look forward to working with Bradford Council as their contractor of choice to support its Bereavement Strategy through the delivery of this sensitively designed facility.
“We will be engaging with the local supply chain wherever possible, and through our community impact programme will be seeking to create local targeted employment opportunities to help support the local economy and the Bradford and Leeds City region.”
The new building is due to open in early 2023.
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