CREMATORIUM bosses have lodged an application to increase the height of a facility, a year after it was finally given the go-ahead for a larger building.

An application has been lodged by Pure Crematorium for minor changes to its Charlton Park site which needs to be constructed in a different way to what was approved under planning consent by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).

The company was given the go-ahead in May last year at a meeting of TVBC’s northern area planning committee to increase the size of its already approved bid to build a new crematorium and a car park at the former Charlton Nursery, in Hatherden Road.

The facility is expected to meet local need, and was able to increase the size of cremation after years of fighting as well as the number of burners from one to four.

Within the latest application it states that the changes would be “barely noticeable” from the road.

The roof would be raised by 300mm to the top of the main ridge and the height of the chimney will be increased by 480mm, but it will be narrowed.

A Pure Crematorium spokesperson said: “Many buildings go through a number of minor changes between what the architects design and what the contractors build. One example of this is the new leisure centre.

“It was important to us to fit the most efficient cremators and the cleanest filtration system on the market not only to ensure we comply with emissions regulations but to be as green as possible.”

The plan says: “The roof profile had to be modified to allow sufficient headroom to accommodate the plant, and the chimney was altered to meet regulations.

“The changes to the doors and windows were made to provide a better functioning layout, and for aesthetic reasons.”

It adds: “The changes made to the building do dilute the design by rather provide an improved appearance and a better functioning layout.”

Work started on the controversial site in April last year and is set to open in June, giving families the chance to say goodbye to loved ones closer to home, and will be offering direct funerals.