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Work starts on new £9.5m mortuary

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire Council A line of nine people in mostly yellow hi-vis jackets. They all have white hard hats. A man and a woman in the centre of the line-up have blue spades. They are standing on soil. There is a yellow digger behind them.West Northamptonshire Council
Staff from the contractors, Stepnells, and the council mark the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony

Building work has started on a new £9.5m public mortuary.

The facility, at Booth Meadow in Northampton, is expected to open in the autumn.

West Northamptonshire Council said it was needed because the existing provision was "fragile and increasingly expensive".

It added that the new mortuary would have "modern, dignified spaces for families, including private viewing and identification areas".

West Northamptonshire Council has a duty to provide mortuary facilities for the coroner, and also for emergencies.

According to a council report, it fulfils those responsibilities at the moment by using mortuaries at local hospitals.

It also has a "temporary body storage facility" in old school pre-fab buildings at The Leys, near Wollaston.

The report described those arrangements as "fragile, vulnerable and expensive".

Google Grey prefab buildings with roller shutters in a plot alongside a rural road. The site is surrounded by trees and there are metal gates across the entrance, which have security company warning notices on them. A small grey car is parked at the entrance.Google
The current facilities include a temporary mortuary near Wollaston

Construction work has now started on a new purpose-built mortuary, designed for both traditional post-mortems and those involving scanners, which reduce the impact on the bodies.

There will also be family viewing and identification facilities.

The site will have the facility to create additional temporary body storage if there is an incident involving mass fatalities.

West Northamptonshire Council Grey two-storey building with tall windows on the ground floor. There are trees and bushes lining the front of the building and an entrance is visible to the left. There is a block paved driveway outside the building and a grass lawn to the right, on which a person is standing.West Northamptonshire Council
Artist's impression of the new mortuary in Booth Meadow, Northampton

The council said the mortuary would "bring key services under one roof, simplifying processes and reducing the need for travel between different sites.

"This will not only make it easier for families by reducing delays but will also improve efficiency for funeral directors, healthcare professionals, and other essential services."

The council added the new facility should save the authority nearly half a million pounds a year.

Laura Coffey/BBC Mike Hallam with short dark hair staring at the camera. He is wearing a blue sweater with a bird logo and a white shirt. He is in front of a large plant and a white wall.Laura Coffey/BBC
Mike Hallam, from the council, said the mortuary would offer "vital support to grieving families"

Mike Hallam, the council's cabinet member for corporate services, said: "Now that work has begun, we're one step closer to providing a modern, compassionate space where people can say their goodbyes with dignity and care.

"This facility will not only offer vital support to grieving families but will also help professionals work more efficiently, ensuring faster outcomes and reducing stress during already difficult times."

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