Northern Ireland’s new £5m crematorium is scheduled to open in June 2023, a report to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee states.
Last month, the crematorium manager and council registrar participated in Northern Ireland’s first “funeral festival” hosted by Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership in Ballymena to promote the facility at Doagh Road in Newtownabbey.
The bereavement services event was held to “break down the taboo around the subject of death and dying”.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is seeking to establish a Funeral Director Forum, which will act as a liaison between the council, funeral directors and the crematorium.
The council is also a member of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management which recycles metals following a cremation with income generated donated to bereavement charities.
It is proposed that Antrim and Newtownabbey’s mayor will nominate a charity annually to benefit from the cremation scheme locally.
Recently, the council agreed a crematorium price rise for non-residents. The increase was approved in line with rising energy prices. A resident rate of £475 will remain the same but the non-resident cremation cost will rise from £800.
Councillors have also been told that some of the features to be included in the design will enable heat to be re-used from the crematory and solar panels will produce some electricity.
Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in March when it will be handed over to the local authority. This will be followed by the installation of equipment, furniture and staff training.
Opening of the crematorium is expected to result in the creation of 12 new jobs.
The council is anticipating an average of six cremations daily. The maximum number per annum will be 1,560. The council hasn’t disclosed the crematorium’s projected annual income and operating cost amid uncertainty around future energy costs.
A live webcast service will be available to families at a cost of £30 further to an annual licensing and service fee incurred by the authority.
In line with current arrangements for cemeteries, proof of residency must be provided to claim the resident fee.
Council minutes indicate that cremations will take place from 10am until 3pm with services at hourly slots designed to allow 15 minutes for mourners to arrive and depart and 45 minutes for the service. The memorial garden and grounds will be open at the same time as the borough’s cemeteries.