Coychurch Crematorium to undergo £1.2m upgrade
While the crematorium itself will remain operational throughout the construction, all funerals will take place in the Coity Chapel until the project’s completion
Bridgend County Borough Council has announced that Coychurch Crematorium’s flower court is due to undergo a £1.2m upgrade, as the extension will be the first structural addition to the public areas of the main building since its opening in 1970.
The news comes as the crematorium joint committee gave approval for the rear of the building to be extended onto the grassed area outside the exit doors of Crallo Chapel.
This is supposed to help congregations to exit the chapel more easily and will resolve access issues to the toilet facilities, which sometimes cause delays to following services due to queues in that area.
The project is expected to be completed in time for summer 2023.
While the crematorium itself will remain operational throughout the construction, all funerals will take place in the Coity Chapel until the project’s completion. The chapel seats 60 people and the number of daily funerals will only be “slightly” reduced.
It is reported that the design has also been tailored to the “unique” character, history and listed building status of the crematorium.
Coychurch Crematorium, which celebrated its 50-year anniversary at the height of the pandemic in 2020, welcomed the improvements which are said to provide a “fitting way” to mark the occasion.
British architect Maxwell Fry was the original designer, with the latest improvements reportedly being overseen by Welsh architect Jonathan Adams, whose notable projects include the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, the new headquarters building for the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) in Llandaff and the Sherman Theatre refurbishment in Cardiff.
Cllr John Spanswick, cabinet member for communities and chair of Coychurch Crematorium joint committee, said: “The project provides a fitting way of bringing the crematorium into modern times by improving access for anyone attending a funeral. Cremations are now more common than they were when the building first opened, and it is important we adapt to this and invest in the building for future generations.
“I appreciate there may be some minor disruptions due to the extensive works, but this will definitely help to improve experiences for mourners and bereaved families in the longer term.”