THREE SITES DESIGNED BY CDSL OPEN THIS YEAR

Three cemeteries designed and project managed by CDSL have opened their gates this year. A further four CDSL designed and project managed sites are due to open this year and with over 20 developments ongoing, CDSL continue to be one of the largest presence in the cemetery design industry.

The first to open this year was the Hardwick Hill Cemetery Extension at Banbury.

Hardwick Hill Banbury

The design and development process started in 2006 with detailed environmental audits and the negotiation of complex drainage rights. Once all the technical and legal issues were resolved, CDSL designed the new cemetery extension which required major grading and levelling of earthworks in order to allow unimpeded surface drainage, and a uniform burial plan.

The contract and tender process was managed by CDSL and the contract was awarded to Whitehorse Contractors Ltd. After a very wet start and in the spring of 2008, the site soon took shape and was completed on time and on budget in the summer of 2008.

The site was formally opened in April 2009 and the first interments are under way.

Forest Row Parish Council

CDSL were invited to undertake an Environment Agency T1 brief to facilitate the EA approval for development. This was successfully done and CDSL were asked to follow up with a design of the new extension to the parish cemetery.

An old pathway overgrown with laurel had to be cleared and an entrance made in an old boundary stone wall , before access to the extension ground could be secured. The new extension had to be installed to a very tight budget and in order to keep costs to a minimum CDSL undertook the design build.

To be in keeping with the existing cemetery and its rural nature pathways and roadways were constructed from self binding gravels an attractive but tricky medium to work with!

The construction phase was started in late winter 2009 and completed early summer and the site is now ready for its first interments.

Derwentside

In 2005 CDSL undertook the first phases of sourcing a site suitable for a new cemetery for the Moorside and Consett community 8 sites were reviewed, tested and after elimination a site was established to be suitable.

EA consents were given and CDSL were tasked with the full planning application. The 3 hectare cemetery design went to tender in 2007 and the works started on site in the summer 2008 with works undertaken by Derwentside District Council (now Durham County Council).

Final works were completed in early spring of this year and the site was opened on the 14th August