Roselawn crematorium plan advances as estimated cost reaches £23 million

Belfast City Council has backed plans for a two-chapel crematorium at Roselawn, with costs now estimated at around £23 million. At its November full council meeting, councillors rejected a Sinn Féin attempt to delay the decision by 28 votes to 27, allowing the east Belfast scheme to proceed.

Cost and access divide councillors

Sinn Féin had sought further consideration of a single-chapel alternative at Milltown. Councillor Ryan Murphy questioned the rising cost of the Roselawn proposal and argued that a different location could improve access for people living in the north and west of Belfast.

Murphy said the journey from Mount Eagles to Roselawn was 12 miles, with a similar distance from the outskirts of Ligoniel. He argued that families faced those journeys while grieving and arranging wakes.

He also said the Bishop of Down and Connor, Reverend Alan McGuckian, had written to party group leaders asking the council to reconsider. Sinn Féin sought a delay on the basis of what it described as “new information”.

The deferral motion drew support from Sinn Féin, the SDLP, independents and People Before Profit. The DUP, Alliance, Green Party, UUP and TUV voted against it.

Pressure on the existing building

Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn said Roselawn had been built in the 1960s for 700 cremations annually but was now handling more than 3,000 a year. He argued that the site faced a critical situation.

Alliance Councillor Michael Long said grieving families had been using an unacceptable facility. He pointed to at least a decade of debate and six months spent on a call-in of the earlier decision.

The existing crematorium is Grade B1 listed, restricting redevelopment. In February, councillors asked officers to investigate the process for removing that listing.

Northern Ireland has two crematoriums: the council-run facility at Roselawn and the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council facility on Doagh Road, Newtownabbey.