PLANS for a new centre at York Cemetery are set to be given the go-ahead at a meeting on Thursday.

Volunteers carry out gardening and repair work at the site as well as hosting educational activities and leading walking tours of the historic grounds.

Under the proposals, the existing potting shed would be extended to create the new centre and a tool store. The development would include a room for school children and visitors to learn about the cemetery’s history and wildlife, as well as a kitchen where volunteers can meet for a cup of tea.

Planning documents say the volunteers are “critical” to the upkeep of the cemetery, which was founded in 1837, and they gave up 3,447 hours to work on the site in 2017.

Dr Richard Keesing, chairman of York Cemetery Trust, earlier told The Press that the scheme will be funded with the help of a “generous legacy” which has been left to the organisation.

He added that the cemetery lacks the right facilities for the large number of helpers who volunteer and that they are very excited about the prospect of a new centre.

The building would be built on a patch of un-consecrated land, near the Gatehouse Lodge. The scheme is set to cost about £200,000 and would take about eight months to complete.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval, even though the site is located in the Green Belt. A report says: “It is considered that the siting of the proposed building would not harm the landscape and design heritage significances of the garden cemetery and the setting of the lodge would not be harmed as a result of the current proposals.

“The proposal does not result in harm to any of the heritage assets identified.

“The attempts by the trust to run educational programmes have been frustrated by the lack of facilities.”

The 24-acre site was taken over and revived by the trust in 1987. Dr Keesing said the cemetery is home to a variety of wildlife including deer and owls and butterflies.