Sheffield City Council has unveiled a bold and forward-thinking Cremation and Cemetery Services Strategy that will shape bereavement services across the city through to 2050.
The contents of the strategy were approved by the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee today (15 September 2025). The strategy sets out a long-term vision on how to deliver inclusive, sustainable, and high-quality services for all Sheffield residents.
Built on one of the city’s largest-ever public consultations, the strategy responds to growing pressures on burial space, rising costs, and the evolving needs of a diverse population.
Now approved, the Council will work to create a plan to implement and deliver their proposals.
Sheffield’s new Cremation and Cemetery Services Strategy is about putting people first – ensuring that every resident, regardless of background or belief, can access high-quality, compassionate bereavement services.
By investing in eco-friendly options, digital innovation, and inclusive community spaces, we’re not only responding to the needs of today, but also safeguarding the wellbeing of future generations.
This strategy is shaped by the voices of Sheffield’s communities and reflects our commitment to dignity, sustainability, and respect for all. We’re proud to lead the way in creating greener, more welcoming places for remembrance and reflection, and to support every family through life’s most difficult moments.
Councillor Kurtis Crossthorn, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council
Everyone will be affected by the loss of a loved one at some point in their lives. Once implemented, the new strategy will benefit anyone who is in the difficult position of burying or cremating a friend or family member.
Residents will see improved access to eco-friendly burial options, greener and more welcoming cemetery spaces, and digital innovations that make memorialisation and service information easier to access.
The strategy aims to put people at the heart of cremation and cemetery services. Embedding structured engagement with faith and cultural groups, Friends of Cemeteries, and young people to ensure services reflect the city’s diversity and evolving needs.
By reinvesting income into service improvements and prioritising high standards of care, Sheffield City Council is committed to supporting every family with dignity and respect, while enhancing the city’s green infrastructure and contributing to climate resilience.
These changes mean that everyone in Sheffield, regardless of background, can expect high-quality, accessible bereavement services that honour every life and support the wellbeing of the whole community.
What’s new for Sheffield?
Sheffield City Council is responsible for managing 16 cemeteries, as well as two crematoria and garden of remembrance across the city.
Approximately 3,000 cremations and 800 burials take place annually across these sites, with further, specific services such as the burial of cremated remains, purchasing and displaying of memorials and storage of remains also being offered.
The new strategy has been shaped by nearly 3,000 responses to a citywide consultation and reflects the voices of residents, community organisations, and faith groups.
It introduces a series of transformative proposals:
- Natural and Eco-Friendly Burials: Introduction of natural burial options, biodegradable memorials, and wildflower planting to reduce environmental impact and support biodiversity.
- New Burial Land: Acquisition of new land to ensure long-term burial provision for the city’s growing population.
- Digital Innovation: Enhanced online services, including digital memorialisation and improved customer communication tools.
- Inclusive, Community-Led Services: Structured engagement with faith and cultural groups, Friends of Cemeteries, and young people to ensure services reflect Sheffield’s diversity.
- Multi-Use Memorial Spaces: Development of welcoming, accessible memorial gardens and spaces for reflection, remembrance, and community use.
- Financial Sustainability: A new funding model that reinvests surplus income into service improvements and grants Bereavement Services greater financial autonomy.
- Climate Resilience: Integration of flood management systems and biodiversity enhancements into cemetery design, supporting Sheffield’s Climate Emergency response.
Next Steps
With the content of the strategy now approved, Sheffield City Council will begin work to refine its presentation and develop a detailed implementation plan. Annual progress reviews will ensure the strategy delivers meaningful change, and the Council will continue to work closely with partners, communities, and stakeholders.