The future of our cemeteries

Camberwell Old - Area Z burial area

Current status

Over the past few years we've overseen work that has turned this hazardous, fenced off area in Camberwell Old Cemetery into a new space that is rich with wildlife and nature. We look forward to returning this remarkable new landscape to the local community, as well as those who will come to remember old friends, partners and relatives.

In addition to this, the project has caught the eye of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). They've recognised the work with an award in the Regeneration Scheme category for 2021.

BALI acknowledges the careful selection of plant species designed to enhance nature conservation, transforming the area into a valuable landscape for local people and other visitors to the cemetery.

This award is a fitting recognition of the excellent design and construction work undertaken to deliver the project. We offer thanks and congratulations to Blakedown Landscapes who won the award and also to Harrison Design Development who designed this sensitive, historic landscape and managed the delivery of the project.

We'd also like to thank everyone locally who took an interest in this project. Following the completion of some minor landscape tasks and the establishment of the area, it will open to the public in spring 2022.

What we've achieved

• created over 600 burial spaces
• remodelled the land and reinstated pathways to prepare the area for new burials
• planted 66 new trees and many ground-cover plants to enhance biodiversity within the cemetery
• the flowering lawns have been sown and are now establishing well
• built habitat features (log piles and hibernaculum) as homes for reptiles, mammals and insects
• removed all unsuitable material that was contaminated by unauthorised waste disposal
• improved the appearance of the boundary along Underhill Road by installing new railings
• from Spring 2022 there will be improved pedestrian access from Underhill Road as a new stepped entrance has been created with striking new gates
  • unfortunately, the entrance will not be accessible for everyone - due to the steepness of the area, a suitable ramp could not be created
  • the main entrance from Forest Hill Road is fully accessible to all

When will the area be open?

• we need to allow time for the remodelled land to settle and for the meadow lawns to establish
• we aim to open the burial area and new gate from Underhill Road during Spring 2022, subject to the meadows establishing well

Permissions

• planning permission was granted in October 2015; planning conditions have since been approved
• faculty permission has been received from the Diocese of Southwark
• we've completed the legal process to extinguish rights of interment for Private graves and removal of memorials where necessary; further information can be found on the removal of public memorials - Area Z development works page

We aim to complete Phase 3 in 2021. The area will be open to the public in summer 2022. You can find out more by viewing our cemetery FAQ page.

• Proposal boards (September 2015) ^{(PDF, 9.5mb)}
• Phase 1 survey (June 2015) ^{(PDF, 1.3mb)}
• Tree survey (July 2015) ^{(PDF, 1.1mb)}
• Bat survey report (May 2015) ^{(PDF, 1.3mb)}
• Faculty statement ^{(PDF, 657kb)}
• Bat survey reports, London Wildlife Trust (September 2015) ^{(PDF, 12.6mb)}
• Phase 1 habitat survey (December 2011) ^{(PDF, 4.1mb)}
• Phase 2 habitat survey (July 2014) ^{(PDF, 2.9mb)}
• Detailed quantitative risk assessment (September 2011) ^{(PDF, 624kb)}
• Land quality assessment including soil survey, part 1a (November 2013) ^{(PDF, 5.1mb)}
• Land quality assessment including soil survey, part 1b (November 2013) ^{(PDF, 4.3mb)}
• Land quality assessment including soil survey, part 2 (November 2013) ^{(PDF, 6.3mb)}
• Independent drainage strategy review – outcome (November 2016) ^{(PDF, 4.5mb)}

Page last updated: 07 March 2024