NACTON: A new �3million crematorium could be holding its first funerals this autumn.

Construction of the building at Porter’s Covert, near the A14 Seven Hills interchange at Nacton, is going well – and is on schedule for completion in the next couple of months.

The consortium behind the project expects it to handle about 700 cremations in its first year and probably twice that in future years.

It will be the most environmentally friendly crematorium in the country, meeting the strictest controls on emissions.

Ray Bingham, part of the team behind the development, said: “It’s been a long process to reach this stage – it was five years ago that we first put forward our plans.

“A new crematorium is of great public interest and a very emotive issue because you don’t see many projects for new crematoriums.

“We are very pleased with the progress that has been made.

“The building has been designed with the appearance of a Suffolk barn, so we have been as sensitive to the environment as possible and made the most of the lovely woodland surroundings.

“The access is excellent, too, with the A14 and A12 close by.”

Operations director Jon Luby said there was a need for a new crematorium and this would be even more so in the future with the predicted population growth for the area. “Nationally, 78 per cent of people are now cremated when they die,” he said.

“For many people, burial is just too expensive – purchase of a grave, and the cost of interment, perhaps �2,000 to �3,000 for a memorial.”

The shell of the building – for which the main contractors are French SEH Construction – is complete, including waiting areas, offices, and the spacious chapel, with work taking place on the interior finishings. The cremator is due to be put in place next month.

Car parking is already in place and there is still some work to be done on the landscaping for the 17-acre site.

n Is the woodland the right place for a new crematorium? Give us your views – write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk