What happens when graveyard spaces run out?

What will happen when graveyards are full and there is no room to bury new bodies?

What do Karl Marx, George Michael and Michael Faraday have in common?

They are buried in Highgate Cemetery.

It is one of the most famous burial grounds in the country, with 170,000 people buried in 53,000 graves.

But what happens when space runs out?

Existing graves could be reused to address burial space shortages

This is something being discussed by the Law Commission - an independent body which reviews legislation in England and Wales - which is proposing a widespread change in burial laws.

It could result in existing graves being reused to address burial space shortages.

According to current legislation, it’s illegal to disturb a grave.

However, in 2022 Highgate Cemetery went to parliament to get the right to reuse graves that have not have anyone buried in them for 75 years.

Ian Dungavell, the chief executive of Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, said: "There are a lot of safeguards for grave owners.

"If a relative objects, that grave would be protected for 25 years."

He also said: "Because we're a heritage cemetery, we don't want to destroy what people come to see.

"Elegant graves, with a nice monument, would be left as they are.

"There are many graves where there is no monument, so no heritage is destroyed."

London could run out of grave space in less than 30 years

Grave reuse has always been allowed in Church of England graveyards, as well as with special acts of parliament.

Professor Nick Hopkins, law commissioner for property, family and trust law said: "Some of the laws date back to the 1850s, or earlier, so it’s time they were reviewed.

"There was a government study in 2007, which estimated we’d run out of grave space in around 30 years."

He also said London would run out of grave space sooner because of the high population - and that a plan needs to be put in place now to ensure grave space remains available in the future.

Magnificent seven

In 1800 the population of London was one million.

By 1831 it had risen to almost two million, according to the census.

Inner city graveyards were struggling to cope with the number of burials.

Like Kensal Green, Highgate Cemetery - which opened in 1839 - formed part of a plan to provide seven modern cemeteries just outside central London.

They are now referred to as the "Magnificent Seven".

They are Victorian gothic, garden cemeteries:

• Highgate Cemetery

• Brompton Cemetery in West Brompton

• Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington

• Kensal Green Cemetery

• Nunhead Cemetery

• West Norwood Cemetery

• Tower Hamlets Cemetery

Until a change in the law, individual cemeteries need to apply to parliament for grave reuse.

Like Highgate Cemetery, another London cemetery plans to submit a private bill in November.

According to the General Cemetery Company (GCC), which runs Kensal Green Cemetery, burial space there will run out in about 10 years' time.

The north-west London cemetery opened in 1833 and was the first commercial cemetery in the capital.

The need for large cemeteries was stimulated by the increase in population in London and the inadequate space provided by existing cemeteries and churchyards.

Kensal Green Cemetery was the first of the 'Magnificent Seven'

The GCC said they are looking into the grave renewal process.

It would involve reclaiming burial rights that have been granted but never used, or only partially used, and re-using grave spaces that have been previously used.

Peter Humphries, head of planning at the GCC said: "It's about preserving the future, preserving and restoring a place to be used by the community and by people as a cemetery and crematorium".

Consultation on the proposals to change the law is open until 9 January 2025.

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