Plans for large mortuary at city business park

Plans have been submitted to build a mortuary for up to 700 bodies on a York industrial estate.

Pure Cremation hopes to convert a unit at York Business Park in Nether Poppleton, saying it would become the firm's main mortuary for the North East.

The company said in its application to City of York Council the full-time facility would "meet the needs of those who need their loved ones' remains collecting immediately".

Up to 35 staff would be employed at the site, according to the application, which said the centre would also support jobs in the wider regional funeral sector.

According to the plans, remains would arrive at the facility by private ambulance where they would be checked and taken to coffins in cooling areas before cremation.

The private ambulances can carry up to four bodies at a time, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, with about 10 journeys into the mortuary across 24 hours.

The facility would not be open to the public and would be equipped with security measures including CCTV, the firm said.

The company said its operations would be "dignified, quiet and discreet" and in a low-key corner of the business park.

"The building is tucked away on the rear edge of the business park close to the railway line and its use will not be obvious to other users or occupants," the application said.

"There is no outward manifestation of the use from the street.

"The use is a low-key, discreet operation, with occasional light traffic coming and going to the site throughout the course of the day, apart from peak times when even then the traffic flows are still modest."

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