The Bill would force every local planning authority in England to plan ahead for enough burial space in their local plan, looking at least 25 years into the future. Councils would have to assess how much burial space they have, how long it will last, and what different faiths, cultures and non‑religious communities need. They would have to mark enough land in their local plan as protected burial land and prepare a long‑term management plan for cemeteries, including options like extending sites or re‑using graves where the law allows. Councils would then report every year on how much space is left and take specific action if they are within ten years of running out of burial room.

Local planning authorities in England would carry new legal duties to assess, protect and manage burial space, and to consult faith groups, burial providers and neighbouring councils. Burial authorities and registered providers of burial services would be drawn into assessments and long‑term planning, and could see more predictable demand and land allocation. Local residents of all faiths and none would be affected through where burial grounds are located, how close they are to home, and how much choice they have, as councils must consider diverse religious and cultural practices and "equitable geographic access". Developers could be affected because some land would be locked in as protected burial land unless the Secretary of State agrees to release it and equivalent burial capacity is provided elsewhere.

Burial planning would move from being optional or ad‑hoc to a firm legal requirement inside every local plan for England, with a clear duty to guarantee capacity over the plan period. Certain areas of land would gain a new protected status for burial uses, and could not be built on for other purposes without national sign‑off and like‑for‑like or better replacement burial capacity. Councils would have to keep an up‑to‑date burial needs assessment, a 25‑year management plan, and an annual burial space monitoring report, plus a capacity action plan if they are within ten years of running out of space. The Secretary of State would gain powers to issue detailed guidance and regulations that shape how councils calculate need, choose sites and set standards for serving different communities.

The Bill exists because some areas face pressure on burial space and there is no uniform duty on councils to plan long term for enough burial land. It aims to make sure projected burial demand over at least 25 years is properly assessed and met, including the needs of all religious, cultural and secular burial practices and a spread of sites so people are within a reasonable travel distance. It also seeks to avoid sudden crises where burial grounds are close to full by requiring early warnings and action plans when capacity is likely to be exhausted within ten years.