London is facing a severe burial space shortage, with an audit by City Hall revealing that three local authorities have already run out of plots entirely and 17 others are projected to run out of capacity by 2040, according to an audit cited by AOL and the BBC. Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Hina Bokhari has urged the Mayor of London to use his convening powers to address what she termed a real crisis point.
Current Burial Capacity Crisis in London Boroughs
According to the City Hall audit, the London boroughs of Camden, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets currently have zero remaining burial space. Furthermore, the analysis predicts that 17 local authorities across Greater London will completely exhaust their local burial plots within the next 15 years, reaching a critical threshold by 2040.
London’s demographic shifts are compounding the issue. Office for National Statistics (ONS) projections cited in the audit indicate that the proportion of Londoners aged 65 and over will reach just over 40% by 2040, steadily increasing demand for burial provision as the population ages.
While local authorities maintain the legal power to provide and maintain cemeteries, they face no statutory requirement to provide new burial space, leaving many councils struggling to manage shrinking land reserves.
Proposed Solutions and City Hall Strategy
To mitigate the looming shortage, Greater London Authority officials have advised local councils to adopt space-saving measures. These recommendations include re-using graves that are over a century old and increasing excavation depths to allow multiple burials within a single plot.
Additionally, the Mayor of London’s draft London Plan—the spatial development strategy for the capital—suggests that boroughs may need to explore utilizing low-quality Green Belt land, commonly referred to as “grey belt,” to secure additional cemetery capacity.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that the draft London Plan makes it clear that boroughs must plan proactively and collaboratively for the expansion, reuse, and long-term provision of burial space while recognizing cultural and faith needs. The spokesperson added that councils should utilize the Audit of London Burial Provision to guide local planning policies.
Calls for Strategic Intervention
Assembly Member Hina Bokhari criticized current inaction, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the audit demonstrates an urgent need for a strategic, London-wide approach.
Bokhari called on the Mayor of London to use his convening authority to bring together local cemeteries, faith communities, and borough councils to forge a concrete action plan. She emphasized that with only 15 years remaining before widespread deficits hit 20 boroughs, leadership and immediate action are required to prevent a compounding crisis.
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