No changes to Bandon Hill Cemetery Lodge

Proposals to convert Bandon Hill Cemetery Lodge into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for care leavers have been dropped after the Cemetery Committee was advised that the council has since identified better options elsewhere to house these residents. 

Earlier this year, a proposal for the use of the lodge in Bandon Hill Cemetery was put to the Cemetery Board for consideration. The proposal was to repurpose the lodge as a dwelling for care leavers or for families with no recourse to public funds.

At its November meeting the Cemetery Committee was advised that the council has since identified better options elsewhere for housing these families. This matter had raised the future of the lodge and the members discussed the options of retaining the building for future use, or to sell it.

Committee members voted unanimously to retain the building and not to pursue a sale. Three Liberal Democrats from Sutton were present and voted on the issue; however, the two Conservative members of the committee did not attend.

As a result of this vote we can confirm that the lodge will remain as it is, and not be converted for alternative uses. The building continues to house property guardians which help ensure the building is secure and well-maintained.

Cllr Jayne McCoy said “We received a large amount of correspondence on this issue over the summer, and we reassured residents that as members of the committee, we would not agree to any plans that would jeopardise the tranquil and respectful atmosphere of Bandon Hill Cemetery. We are pleased that the outcome of the meeting reflects this.”

A number of residents attended the committee meeting and were given the chance to express their views on the plan, and on wider matters related to the cemetery. The next meeting of the committee will be in July 2025. Details will be available on the Sutton Council website.