A lack of burial spaces in a Co Antrim Parish could see the grounds of a former primary school converted into a graveyard.
St Macnissi’s Primary School in the Chapeltown Road area of Tannaghmore closed in 2020.
Situated close to a church of the same name, the Parish of Antrim has now submitted plans to reflect “a growing desire within the local community” to explore the possible change.
Parishioners had voiced concerns that the only dedicated graveyard in Antrim Parish, located around five miles away at St Comgall’s Church in Antrim, was “completely full”.
Planning documents lodged with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said that with around 70 burials a year in the parish, there was an “urgent need” to identify a site for a new parish cemetery.
A decision was taken for a Hydrogeological Risk Assessment (HRA) to assess the site’s suitability for use as a cemetery and to draw up plans to show the proposed layout of eight burial zones.
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With 16 parking spaces on the old school playground, the staff car park would provide a further 22 spaces for busy times or when funerals are taking place.
As well as proposals for disability access on the site, the application said there was currently no plans to develop or utilise the existing school buildings as part of the cemetery development.
If the initial plans are approved, it is expected that a separate planning application would be submitted at a later date.
It was also noted that the temporary classrooms on the site were in a poor condition and would be removed to create one of the burial zones.
Other details included plans for landscaping and creating a new tree-lined avenue along a new access road leading into the cemetery.
The site investigation discovered an old field drain that had been rerouted in the 1840s, but suggested any trapped water would be kept fully isolated from burial plots.
In summary, chartered architect James Rooney states there is “robust evidence” from the HRA report to show the grounds are compatible for use as a cemetery.
He adds that as much of the infrastructure is already in place - including parking and a large grass area - it would be “a change that local residents have indicated they would welcome.”
