Buying a Grave​
Guidelines on Graves
Leicester City Council offers a choice of graves.
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Due to a change in policy new graves are now available to pre-purchase in Leicester City Council cemeteries. These graves are for a period of 50 years, renewable at the end of the lease.
You can make an appointment with the Council Bereavement Services office, who will provide more detailed information and help you to select a suitable plot.
More information on grave options can be found using the following link: click here
Burial Documentation
A completed application form, known as a Notice of Burial, is required prior to any burial. This form sets out all of the information required by the council for the preparation of the grave at Saffron Hill Cemetery.
Note: It is important to decide who the applicant will be from the family to sign off the Notice of Burial. The applicant will the person who will be responsible for settling all fees and charges raised by the council for the funeral.
You can download and complete the Notice of Burial (BRV1) application form below if you wish to make your own arrangements without a funeral director.
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In addition to the Notice of Burial, a Registrar's Burial Order (green form) obtained when the death is registered, or a Coroners Order for Burial (if the deceased was referred to a coroner for a post mortem), is required before a burial can be arranged.
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Download the Notice of Burial (BRV1)
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Grave Options
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Lawned Grave
A lawn grave means that you can apply for a permit (fee payable) to place a memorial headstone on a grave space, NO kerbs, fences or surrounds are permitted on the grave and will be removed without further notice. No trees or shrubs may be planted on the grave. The planting of memorial flowers will be permitted in a border at the head of the grave but must not exceed 30cm in depth (adult) or 15cm in depth (child) from the memorial. Maintenance of the memorial and planting is the responsibility of the grave owner.
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Please note all new lawn graves will be turfed and maintained by the cemetery staff as soon as the grave has settled and weather conditions permit. This may take up to 12 months.
Traditional Grave
A traditional grave means that you are allowed to place a headstone with kerbs, fences or surrounds and/or sow plants and shrubs (no trees) in the grave space. A memorial permit is required for all memorials for which a memorial permit fee is payable.
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The fee will also apply to any homemade fences, kerbs or surrounds placed on a traditional grave.
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Guidance on Memorials
Leicester City Council has a responsibility, under the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that risks within cemeteries are properly managed.
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An application form for a permit must be submitted to Bereavement Services for the approval to install any new memorial in the cemetery, alter or add any inscription, add to or remove from the cemetery any memorial, for which fee is payable.
Any memorial installed in the cemetery will be inspected and tested every 5 years to ensure it is safe.
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When an inspection reveals a memorial to be unsafe, the Council are legally required to temporarily make safe the potential hazard. As memorials are the responsibility of the grave owners and their families, the Council will only temporarily make them safe. It will not carry out any repairs.
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Owners should contact their memorial stone mason in order to carry out any necessary works and the stone mason must ensure that works are carried out to the recognised industry standards as laid down by National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) or the British Registrar of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) Code of Working Practice.
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Contacting the Leicester City Council Cemeteries Department
Bereavement Services
Leicester City Council
Gilroes Crematorium
Groby Road
LE3 9QG
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Opening hours:
08.30am - 4.30pm. Monday to Friday
Telephone - 0116 373 7327
Leicester City Council - Website
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Contacting Saffron Hill Cemetery
Saffron Hill Cemetery
Stonesby Avenue
Leicester
LE2 6TY
Telephone: 0116 299 5527
Email: cemeteries@leicester.gov.uk
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Cemetery closing times for 2021
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From 1 January 5pm
From 21 January 6pm
From 11 February 6.30pm
From 31 March 8pm
From 15 April 9pm
From 12 August 8pm
From 9 September 7pm
From 30 October 6.30pm
From 27 October to 31 December 5pm
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Lawned Grave
The lawned grave is a simple turfed grave that only allows for a headstone. The planting of shrubs, plants or placing of kerbs, fences or surrounds is not permitted
