Huge flytip at crematorium site

Thursday, 6 August 2026 20:51

Rubbish dumped on a site previously earmarked for development as a crematorium for Hinckley Credit: HBBC

Waste has been tipped on council-owned land in Hinckley that was previously earmarked for development as a crematorium.

The site of the A47 Leicester Road, between Hinckley and Earl Shilton, has been up for sale following the collapse of the project.

A major investigation into the dump has been launched. The council said the waste appears to include the contents of household skips.

A statement said:

The waste, which appears to include the contents of household skips, was found at the site along with evidence that heavy goods equipment had been used to create a soil embankment, deliberately shielding the area from public view.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said the flytip has been reported to Leicestershire Police and the Environment Agency. It said:

The council, working with Leicestershire Police’s Rural Crime team and the Environment Agency, has acted quickly to secure the site and gather evidence to support the investigation. Two vehicles found on site have been removed under local authority powers for vehicles suspected of being used in waste crime.

Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or any information around suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact the Environment Agency which is leading the investigation.

Leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Stuart Bray said:

We know residents will rightly be angry to see the countryside treated in this way. Our officers are working closely with the police and Environment Agency, and action has already been taken, including removing two vehicles from the site.
Our priority now is to support the Environment Agency's investigation, secure the evidence and make sure those responsible are held to account, including for the clean-up. If you saw anything that did not look right in this area, please report it.”

The land off the A47 was earmarked for a new crematorium after planning permission was approved in 2019.

Construction work began in 2021, however, the £5 million scheme stalled before any meaningful building started and the project was abandoned after rising construction costs and difficulties in the contractor market made the project financially unviable.

Earlier this year, the council confirmed it would instead sell the land to an experienced third-party developer, with the condition that it can only be used for a crematorium.

Anyone with information should contact the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, quoting incident number 02544976 or Leicestershire Police on 101.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Timeline:

February 2018 - Consultation on plans for Hinckley Crematorium launched
January 2019 - Plans approved by council with budget of £4.6million with work due to start late 2019 and open in February 2021
July 2020 - Council announces delay and says project will cost an extra £3.4 million. A contractor has been chosen an a revised opening date of August 2021 was publicised.
January 2021 - Kier Group starts work on the site with a revised budget of £5million and opening date of "early 2022"