Work is about to start on Plymouth鈥檚 new 拢16millon crematorium after construction firm Kier was chosen to build it.
Spades will be in the ground at the 17-acre site on the eastern edge of the city, off Merafield Road near the Stag Lodge entrance to Saltram Park, before the end of November 2020, after the Kier Group was appointed as construction contractors for the project.
Kier, which has been integral to the success of the award-winning Oceansgate marine engineering enterprise zone project at nearby Devonport, was chosen after a competitive tender process with several other internationally renowned organisations.
With a track record of constructing non-standard projects with significant landscaping and a committed approach to supporting the city economy Kier was given the nod.
Over the course of the build, Kier will commit to meeting social objectives via a detailed local employment and skills plan to ensure that as much of the 拢16 million ear-marked for the project can be spent in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
This includes ensuring that 85% of SME sub-contractors come from the PL postcode and an agreement to work with Building Plymouth and local education establishments to provide a series of placements.
In addition, Kier will also help to support a new landscaping social enterprise project to promote skills not ordinarily found on a city centre building project.
The project will see Plymouth鈥檚 ageing crematoria at Weston Mill and Efford replaced with a modern facility.
Cllr Sally Haydon, cabinet member for customer focus and community safety, said: 鈥淭his new crematorium is going to completely revolutionise the way we deliver our bereavement service in Plymouth and I鈥檓 delighted that we have reached another important milestone.
鈥淚f the recent situation has taught us anything, it鈥檚 that this service is one of our most important and to be able to pay our final respects to love ones in such a beautiful location will make the difference to so many people across Plymouth. I鈥檓 delighted to welcome the Kier Group on board and can鈥檛 wait to see them get started.鈥
Doug Lloyd, operations director at Kier, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be chosen to be the council鈥檚 construction partner for the delivery of this high quality crematorium which will provide an important service for the people of Plymouth and the surrounding communities.
鈥淎s a business who has been based in Plymouth for over 90 years it is important to us that we ensure the project has a positive impact on the local economy and we look forward to working with the project team and Building Plymouth to provide opportunities for local SME鈥檚, apprentices, T-level support and work experience for local schools and colleges building upon the positive impact the Oceansgate Phase 2 project with Plymouth City Council has had to date.
鈥淲e will be launching a Landscaping Academy that will look to upskill and train people in this area using the scheme as a live training opportunity鈥
The designs for the new crematorium have been developed with insights from the public and the funeral industry, after an extensive consultation exercise over the past few years.
Produced by Plymouth architects Stride Treglown and Aecom and project managed by Ward Williams Associates plans show single-storey buildings nestled in green spaces with water pooled around the ceremony rooms.
Want more Plymouth business news straight to your inbox?
BusinessLive South West is home for all your Plymouth business news as well as relevant stories from across the wider region.
You can sign up to receive daily morning business bulletins and we'll send out breaking news alerts for any stories we think you can't miss.
Visit our email preference centre to sign up to all the latest news from BusinessLive.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Facebook:
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click .
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page
Inside, light and open ceremony spaces with large windows are in keeping with the desire to provide a modern quality facility.
Reflective spaces will be created for memorials and scatterings alongside landscaping that embraces the local environment and ecology. It is also hoped that a green burial option will be available at the new site.
Furthermore, a caf茅, located on the site but away from the main crematorium building, is included in the project.
The caf茅 will be open to serve refreshments for people attending funerals and also for people visiting the site to pay their respects. There will also be a facility that families can hire for wakes.
The existing cemeteries at Efford and Weston Mill will continue to be active for burial and memorials with the chapels available for bookings.
More information on plans for the new crematorium can be found
