Artist’s impressions show how new £2.2m cemetery in Powke Lane, Rowley Regis, will look

Land off Powke Lane will be transformed into a new cemetery with an office building - providing burials in Sandwell borough for decades to come.

The new cemetery, opposite Rowley Regis crematorium, will include visitor toilets, a car park and landscaping.

It is expected to be complete in early 2022.

Investigative work has already started in preparation for building and landscaping works, which will begin in early 2021.

Work on the new cemetery will see more than 70 per cent of the existing green area remain as public open space.

Public rights of way will also be maintained.

Councillor Wasim Ali, Cabinet Member for Resources and Core Services, said: “We are rapidly running out of burial space in Sandwell and without this new site, we would be facing the possibility of families being unable to bury their loved ones here in the not too distant future.

“The new cemetery will take up less than 30 per cent of the green space we’re using, and the rest of the area will still be open to the public for walks and other activities.

“Work will be carried out with the minimum of disruption to residents and we’ll be focussing on not only improving the open space that remains accessible to residents, but also boosting the ecological value of the site.”

The council has assured residents the majority of mature trees on the site will remain.

Some non-native species, smaller trees and undergrowth clearance work will be necessary at the entrance to the site.

Plans for the site also include enhancing wooded areas and work on the former canal arm.

For updates on the project go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/newcemetery

The reveal of how the new Rowley Regis cemetery will look comes as two of Sandwell's established cemeteries celebrate top national awards.

Tipton Cemetery has been awarded Gold Cemetery of the Year in the National Cemetery of the Year Awards. Fallings Heath cemetery also picked up a silver award in two different categories.