Construction of £9.5m mortuary enters final stages

The construction of a town's new mortuary has moved into its final stages.

The £9.5m facility, on West Northamptonshire Council-owned land in Northampton, aims to consolidate services, reducing the need for people to travel to multiple locations.

Construction of the site at Riverside Business Park began earlier this year, and it is expected to open in March.

Councillor Andrew Last, cabinet member for corporate HR and regulatory services at the Reform UK-controlled local authority, said the progress of the project was "genuinely uplifting".

"You can really see how far we've come and what this new mortuary will mean for families across the county," said Last.

"This has been a long-awaited and much-needed investment, and the progress reflects our commitment to providing dignified, modern and compassionate services for our residents."

Graham Lambert, director at contractor Stepnell Ltd, added: "This stage of the build is where everything starts to come together, where the structure becomes a place with purpose."

He said his teams were completing the fit-out and external works and that they were "proud" to play a part in the project.

The council said Northampton Mortuary would bring post-mortem and related services together under one roof for the first time, reducing delays and unnecessary travel.

It will also feature "modern, carefully designed family spaces that prioritise privacy, compassion and support".

The scheme was given planning permission in December 2024, and the council had hoped to have opened it already in the autumn.

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