South Hinksey Cemetery Extension
Client: South Hinksey Parish Council
Budget: £69,000
Department: Highways and Engineering (Infrastructure Solutions)
Completed: July 2025
Summary
ODS Highways was commissioned to deliver an extension to the South Hinksey Parish Council Cemetery.
The works were carried out within a sensitive, operational environment, requiring careful consideration of visitors and funeral services at all times. A combination of mechanical and non-mechanical methods was used to construct additional burial space, a new Garden of Remembrance, and the associated roads, pathways, and landscaping.
Requirements
The project involved the creation of a new Garden of Remembrance as an extension to the existing cemetery site.
Key elements of the works included:
Construction of a new internal access road, incorporating a turning circle appropriately sized for a hearse and seamlessly connected to the existing road network.
Installation of a series of transverse stone pathways to provide safe and accessible pedestrian routes throughout the site.
Excavation and re-profiling of the sloped terrain to create new levels, ensuring each group of burial plots sat at a consistent height.
Cultivation, contouring, and grading of the site to allow all new concrete plinths to be accurately levelled.
Completion of landscaping works once all road, pathway, and drainage installations were finished to integrate the extension into its surroundings.
Challenges
The project was delivered within a sensitive, operational cemetery environment, requiring constant awareness of burial services and visitors.
Existing trees and designated no-dig zones limited the use of mechanical excavators in certain areas.
The initial design information was incomplete, creating additional time pressures during delivery.
Precise identification and recording of the location of each burial plot was essential.
Solutions
Construction activities were carefully scheduled around burial services to minimise disruption and maintain a respectful environment for visitors.
In areas with existing trees or no-dig restrictions, excavation was carried out by hand to protect tree roots and avoid damage.
The team developed and refined the initial design in collaboration with the client, introducing additional levels where required with support from engineering specialists. This proactive approach reduced delays and delivered cost savings for the client.
Advanced laser surveying technology was used to produce a detailed GPS map of every burial plot, including the precise location of concrete plinths and headstones, ensuring long-term accuracy and clarity.
Results
The project was delivered safely and respectfully, with minimal disruption to cemetery services and visitors throughout the works. The new Garden of Remembrance and burial areas were completed to a high standard, with accurately levelled plots, well-integrated access roads and pathways, and a fully landscaped finish. By refining the design and using precise laser surveying, ODS Highways provided the client with a robust, clearly mapped extension that meets both immediate needs and long-term site management requirements, while achieving efficiencies in time and cost.
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