Full details and images of how a new smaller version of a controversial new cemetery between Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn could look have been revealed.

The plans are proposed by the charitable arm of the billionaire Issa brothers' business empire.

The scaled-back blueprint halves the size of the graveyard, reduces the number of plots by two-thirds and moves it to the North-West edge of the site near the M65 bridge away from any houses.

The original proposal on 84 acres of land off Blackburn Road on the outskirts of Oswaldtwistle was for 35,000 burial plots, prayer pavilions and caretaker accommodation with 752 car parking spaces.

The new one has just 12,250 burial plots; a single pavilion complex of funeral parlour, prayer halls, condolence rooms and ablutions facilities; and 356 parking spaces.

The proposal was withdrawn in January 2022 after a wave of protests from nearby residents.

Now the new planning application has been published by Hyndburn Council with images of how the graveyard will look.

When the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that the Issa Foundation was preparing new scaled-back proposals last month the authority's Conservative group leader Cllr Zak Khan said he and residents in his St Oswald's ward remained 'adamantly opposed' to the project.

A design and access statement submitted with the application says: "The Issa Foundation was established in 2016 as a not-for-profit charity.

"The services it provides will include all the transport arrangements for the deceased.

"In the original application, the cemetery occupied an area covering 34 hectares and was for approximately 35,000 burial plots.

"The new revised scheme covers a significantly reduced area of 18.5 hectares and proposes a reduction in burial plots to a total of approximately 12,250."

The revised layout incorporates the following key changes:

  • the retention of a significant proportion of the site’s trees;
  • the reduced area for burial plots;
  • the retention of the ditch/stream within the western part of the site beneath Knuzden Hall;
  • the removal of burial plots close to Knuzden Hall;
  • a reduction in parking spaces from 752 to 356;
  • previously proposed large areas of excavation have been avoided; and
  • a scheme which works more sympathetically with the existing landscape.

The plans add: "Since the original application, the client along with the design team undertook a complete site audit taking into consideration the issues and objections raised in 2021/22 and the new proposal reflects the significant changes made since.

"One of the significant changes made is the reduction in the overall development area.

"All deceased Muslims are buried and there is no cremation.

"The design intent is to promote the highest quality sustainable design, creating a ‘place’ which is both safe and attractive which enhances the local area to create an enduring high-quality cemetery, public realm and landscape

"Islamic burial differs from other religion burials in a number of ways including the absence of large headstones, no embalming and no coffins.

"The development will provide its visitors with an experience of beauty, welcoming and tranquillity easily accessed by all to attract members of the public who wish to walk through its grounds as a place of contemplation and reflection."

The design includes the following:

  • access road from the main Blackburn Road;
  • pavilion building and funeral prayer halls;
  • maintenance compound;
  • an internal roadway for use only by hearses and maintenance vehicles;
  • footpaths;
  • woodlands;
  • ponds; and
  • boundary treatment including buffer zones

It adds: "The burial grounds are configured as a series of burial blocks set in a geometric pattern oriented towards Qibla (the position of Meccah). Each ‘whole’ burial block contains nine burial ‘tiles’.

"The burial blocks are also connected by a series of access drives/avenues lined with formal trees to provide a sense of enclosure and tranquillity.

"The burial plots will be sectioned to cater for adult burial (above the age of 13);. children burial (still born to 12 years of age); and miscarriage, foetus, placenta and body parts.

"The pavilion and funeral prayers blocks current concept is based on contemporary but simple architecture.

"The pavilion block is a single-storey building of interconnecting stepping-in height blocks.

"The principal operating hours will be between 8am and 4pm with typically only one or two services held in a day.

"It is anticipated the number of attendees at most services will be between 100 to 150 people with larger services having up to 400 attendees.

"At every burial block/grid intersection there will be a ‘Rest Station’."