Barnet among London boroughs facing burial space shortage by 2040

Barnet residents could face longer journeys to visit graves or delays in local burials within 15 years, as the borough is among 17 London councils predicted to run out of cemetery space by 2040. A City Hall audit, published earlier this year, found that Barnet already depends on out-of-borough provision due to a lack of available land for new graves.

The audit, which surveyed 25 boroughs, revealed that nine rely on cemeteries outside their boundaries. Camden, Hackney, and Tower Hamlets have no remaining space at all. With London’s population aged 65 and over projected to reach 40.9% by 2040, demand for burial plots is expected to rise sharply.

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What Barnet Council can do next

The draft London Plan, the Mayor’s spatial development strategy, instructs boroughs to plan for the expansion, reuse, and long-term provision of burial space. Options include reusing graves over a century old, increasing burial depth to allow multiple interments in one plot, or identifying new sites on low-quality Green Belt land, known as ‘grey belt’.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari, who raised the issue after struggling to bury her father in Merton 15 years ago, called for urgent action. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There is a real crisis point now. If we don’t face this issue, families will face the devastating news of a loved one’s death, only to find they cannot bury them where they live.”

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“He can use his convening powers to bring in the cemeteries, faith communities, and boroughs to work on a concrete plan. If we end up with no space in 20 boroughs in 15 years, then what?”

Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member

Bokhari urged the Mayor of London to lead a strategic approach, rather than leaving individual boroughs to address the shortage. She suggested councils first explore expanding existing cemeteries or repurposing unused land before considering Green Belt sites. “Let’s make sure we have a clear, concrete approach before we even think about the Green Belt,” she said.

Legal changes proposed

Currently, councils are not legally required to provide burial space, only to maintain existing cemeteries. Liberal Democrat peers have introduced a bill in the House of Lords that would mandate councils to include guaranteed burial ground space in their local development plans. If passed, the legislation would force boroughs to track capacity and plan ahead before running out of space.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said the draft London Plan already encourages boroughs to plan proactively and collaboratively. “Councils should refer to the Audit of London Burial Provision, which provides evidence to support local policies,” they said. The spokesperson added that cultural and faith needs must be recognised in any solution.

What happens next in Barnet

Barnet Council has not yet responded to the audit’s findings or outlined specific plans to address the shortage. The next formal step is for the council to review its Local Plan, which sets out development priorities for the borough. Residents can submit comments during public consultations, which are typically announced on the council’s website and in local notices.

If the House of Lords bill becomes law, Barnet would be legally required to allocate land for burial space in its Local Plan. Until then, the council can choose to act voluntarily, as encouraged by the Mayor’s office. No timeline has been set for when Barnet will present its strategy.