In The News

Plans for a Castleton Park crematorium to serve Newport

South Wales Argus - 3rd December 2023

Plans have been submitted for a new crematorium at Castleton Park. The site would serve bereaved families living between Cardiff and Newport with the aim of reducing journey times to funerals.

Developer Richard Evans said the service would look after around 1,166 cremations per year, or four per day, similar to the Langstone Vale site to the east of Newport, which he also developed and opened six years ago.

Mr Evans has submitted the plans for Castleton Park to Newport City Council following a “mixed response” from residents and a majority of opposition in the 250-person village of Michaelstone-y-Fedw.

Six funeral director firms in the area, including J. Pidgeon and Son of Cardiff and Philip Tom and Sons of Pontymister, have “warmly welcomed” the proposed site.

The local branch of the Coop Funeralcare network, James Summer Funeralcare, are also supportive.

Paul Dowding of Green Willow Funerals, one of the largest funeral directors in south Wales, said a new crematorium at Castleton would be “perfectly situated” to give families a more “dignified” service.

Following local feedback, the developer has proposed to widen Coalpit Lane, adding he was confident all “highway issues” could be resolved.

Mr Evans has assured residents in Michaelstone-y-Fedw that funeral-goers will access the crematorium from the A48 rather than drive through their village.

“The crematorium will serve communities on the east side of Cardiff and the west side of Newport who will, naturally, use the A48,” he said.

Demand for crematorium services is set to rise over the next two decades, with the Office for National Statistics forecasting a 15 per cent increase in mortality across Cardiff, Newport and Caerphilly.

Mr Evans said the Castleton Park crematorium would provide a more "distinctive and personal" service than providers like the one in Thornhill.

At a public exhibition on September 28, members of the public were invited to see the proposals, ask questions and provide their thoughts.

The developer says seven in ten attendees acknowledged the need for a new crematorium to serve families on the east of Cardiff and west of Newport.

Plans for £6m crematorium serving Cardiff and Newport submitted

Business Live - 30th November 2023

If approved the crematorium in Castleton will open in 2026. Plans for a £6m new crematorium serving Cardiff and Newport have been submitted to planners. Developer Richard Evans has submitted a planning application for the proposed Castleton Park crematorium, located at a site off the A48 in Castleton, with Newport Council.

The crematorium is projected to provide 1,116 funerals a year. Subject to planning approval work on the project would start in 2025 and open towards the end of 2026.

Mr Evans previously developed the Langstone Vale crematorium in the east of Newport. He said his latest crematorium would create up to 50 jobs in its construction and six new permanent jobs once operational.

He said he has adapted the plans to improve the local road network with the widening of Coalpit Lane. Through his company Castleton Park Ltd he is “confident that all highways issues can be resolved,” while claiming that most funeral-goers will arrive at the crematorium from the A48 rather than by driving through of village of Michaelstone-y-Fedw - where there has been strong opposition to his scheme.

He added: “This is because the crematorium will serve communities on the east side of Cardiff and the west side of Newport who will naturally, use the A48.”

The project has the support of six funeral director firms including regional companies in J.Pidgeon and Sons, Coles Funeral Directors and Phillip Tom and Sons.

Planning – Application Summary

Newport City Council - 28th November 2023

23/1066 | DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CREMATORIUM, NEW ACCESS AND CAR PARKING AND MEMORIAL PARKLAND | Land North West Of New Park Farm Penylan Road Bassaleg Newport South Wales.