Four objections have so far been lodged, including from local funeral directors, claiming bodies would be stored in an undignified and industrial facility.
They argued it would “harm the local funeral economy” in York, which they said was already “one of the best when it comes to bereavement care”.
On 20 July, Anne Hook, Rural West York’s Liberal Democrat ward councillor, called for the application to go before City of York Council’s planning committee for a decision.
She believed the proposed mortuary could put off other businesses moving to the business park.
Writing a letter in response on 12 August, the applicant’s agent stated calls for a vote over residential amenity, highways, noise, traffic, over-development and impact on neighbouring businesses did not stand up to scrutiny.
O’Neill Associates said: “The proposal will employ 35 people, working in shifts over a 24-hour period, with the result that only 20 employees will be on site at any given time.
“The level of employment is unlikely to have any adverse impact on the surrounding highway network.”
They added screening was already provided to surrounding business units and the only noise, apart from vehicle movement, would come from external cooling units.
“Pure Cremation occupy a similar premises on a business park in Knutsford, Cheshire – no complaints or adverse impact is reported from that site,” they added.
