A new £3 million crematorium is set to be built in West Bromwich, after plans to refurbish the current facility were shelved.

Sandwell Council had been planning to revamp the 46-year-old crematorium in Newton Road in the town.

The intention was to transform it into a multi-faith centre, complete with a viewing area for ceremonies. However, after an investigation, the council says that a facelift would cost the same amount of money as creating a new-purpose built facility on an adjacent site.

The new site currently belongs to Sandwell Park Farm and the council is expected to approve the plans and the release of the strip of land next month.

Councillor Mahboob Hussain, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and housing, said cash for the project had already been set aside.

He said: “The money is already in place. We worked out that modernisation would cost £3 million, around the same amount of money it would cost for a complete rebuild.

“If the plans are approved, subject to the land being available from culture and leisure, the new crematorium will be constructed next to the current building, which will remain open while the new facility is built.

“This means that there will be no closures for refurbishment work, which would have been unavoidable if we had gone for an upgrade.”

The new facilities are set to include a viewing area for Sikh and Hindu ceremonies where mourners are required to watch coffins being placed into the cremator. There is also expected to be an extended car park to cater for the large numbers of people attending funerals.

A covered area will be built for floral tributes, a new toilet and wash room and a waiting room. The facility will be air conditioned and accessible for disabled people.

Environmental issues are also expected to feature in the design and council officers will look at options for including ground source heat pumps, methods of harvesting rainwater and solar power. New cremators will include technology to cut down on emissions, to meet reduction targets set by the Government.