A PLOT of land may finally be used as a cemetery – 140 years after it was purchased for that purpose.

Bradford Council bought the land that is now Bowling Cemetery in the 1880s. But a section to the north west of the site has never been used for burials.

Now the authority plans to use this land to expand the cemetery and has submitted a “lawful development” application to allow this.

If approved it would mean the land can be used for burials without the need for a full planning application.

Future of derelict Bowling Cemetery chapel appears uncertain

The application says: “The land has not been used for burials since the Cemetery was laid out in 1880’s.

“The intention is to now utilise the land as for burials in line with the Councils adopted Bereavement Strategy.

“It is considered a lawful development given that the land was purchased for burial in the late 1880’s and its only now that the land needs to brought into and laid out as a cemetery.

“A planning application for the infrastructure of the cemetery will follow a successful conclusion of this application.”

It says the land has not been used for any official purpose since it was purchased.

A decision on the application is expected next month.