With London’s population continuing to age — ONS data predicts the proportion aged 65 and over will be 40.9 per cent by 2040 — ever greater pressure is likely to be put on finding burial space. City Hall’s ‘Audit of London Burial Provision’, released earlier this year, warns that many boroughs, particularly in inner London, are either nearing capacity or have none left. Grey beltThe draft London Plan has a section dedicated to ‘Burial Space’, encouraging boroughs to “plan pro-actively for the expansion, re-use and long-term provision of burial space to meet future demand.” Currently, while local authorities have the power to provide and maintain cemeteries, they are not legally required to provide burial space. If passed, the legislation will mandate the inclusion of guaranteed burial ground space within local development plans.