London is facing a growing crisis over burial capacity, with three boroughs already recorded as having no available grave plots and a City Hall audit warning that 17 local authorities could run out of space by 2040.
Immediate shortages in inner London
The audit, produced for City Hall, lists Camden, Hackney and Tower Hamlets as having exhausted burial provision. Officials say the shortfall reflects long‑term trends: a rising and ageing population, limited land in inner London, and existing cemeteries that have little scope for expansion.
Local Democracy Reporting Service coverage of the audit says Greater London Authority (GLA) officers have recommended a range of measures to boroughs, including permitting the re‑use of graves that are over a century old and increasing grave depths to allow multiple burials within the same plot.
Calls for a coordinated city response
Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly who raised the issue, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the findings make clear there needs to be a strategic, London‑wide approach.
"The audit has made that really clear that there needs to be a strategic London‑wide approach. There needs to be a plan, but there needs to be action behind that plan. And I want the Mayor of London to lead on that action."
Ms Bokhari urged the mayor to use his convening powers to bring together councils, cemetery operators and faith communities to produce a concrete plan before the situation worsens.
Pressure from demographic change
The audit cites demographic projections from the Office for National Statistics indicating that the proportion of Londoners aged 65 and over will be "just over 40%" by 2040, contributing to increased demand for burial space.
City Hall officials also suggest boroughs may need to consider land currently judged low quality within the Green Belt — referred to as "grey belt" — as a last resort to create additional capacity for burials.
Measures under consideration
The measures recommended to local authorities include:
- Re‑use of graves more than 100 years old where appropriate and in line with community expectations;
- Increasing the depth of new graves to permit multiple burials in a single plot;
- Exploring options to release or repurpose low‑quality Green Belt land for burial space.
Those suggestions are contentious: re‑using graves raises religious and cultural sensitivities and would require careful engagement with faith communities and bereaved families.
What this means for Londoners
For Londoners planning funerals, the shortage is already having practical consequences. Many inner‑city cemeteries now restrict burials, forcing families to look outside their borough for plots. Funeral directors and local authorities may increasingly advise cremation or out‑of‑borough interment where space is unavailable.
Local leaders and campaigners say the problem cannot be left to individual councils to solve in isolation. The audit’s authors and Assembly members argue a coordinated strategy is needed that balances land use, cultural practices and long‑term population change.
Accountability and next steps
Ms Bokhari emphasised the mayor’s role: convening stakeholders, producing a plan and ensuring action follows. City Hall’s draft London Plan already signals a need for boroughs to consider unconventional options to meet demand.
| Data point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Boroughs with no burial space | Camden, Hackney, Tower Hamlets |
| Projected boroughs running out by 2040 | 17 |
| Projected share of Londoners aged 65+ | Just over 40% by 2040 (ONS) |
As the capital’s population continues to grow and age, the challenge of providing dignified end‑of‑life options is set to sharpen. Boroughs, faith groups and the mayor’s office will need to navigate sensitive cultural issues while making difficult choices about land use.
On the streets where I report, conversations about housing and transport often overshadow talk of cemeteries, but for families planning funerals the shortage is an immediate and personal problem. If London’s leaders do not move quickly to coordinate resources and consulting with communities, the audit warns, many more boroughs will reach the same point of scarcity in the decade and a half ahead.
