Prayer Halls, Bushy Cemetery

DWD was appointed by The United Synagogue, who sought to secure planning permission to extend Bushey Cemetery, which is located in the Green Belt within Hertsmere Borough Council.

Detailed pre-application discussions and negotiations with Hertsmere Borough Council took place to ensure that DWD secured planning consent in 2013 on behalf of The United Synagogue. The project team ensured that the development of the 16 acre site protected the Green Belt and its openness through extensive landscaping, screening and through a carefully considered design and use of materials.

The consented scheme includes two new prayer halls and other cemetery facilities together with the provision of a landscape setting, circulation to burial plots and car parking.

The sensitive design was developed in collaboration with Waugh Thistleton Architects and the landscape architects, J&L Gibbons.  The cemetery makes use of natural features and landscaping with an environmentally sensitive approach. The prayer halls are constructed of ‘rammed earth’ which utilises highly compressed natural materials clad with timber.

Amendments were proposed to the scheme which required DWD to work closely with Hertsmere Borough Council to agree and secure approval to vary the approved plans via a Section 73 Application.

DWD also successfully worked with the project team throughout the construction phase to manage the discharge of all the pre- commencement and pre-occupation planning conditions and S106 requirements to enable Bushey Cemetery to open in May 2017.

Waugh Thistleton Architects work on the unique project was recognised in November 2017 when they won the Religion Award for a completed project at the World Architecture Festival.

Please contact Nick Fennell or Emma Penson for further information.