New £9.5m mortuary opens in town

A new £9.5m mortuary has opened in Northampton.

The County Mortuary, built on council-owned land in Riverside, will combine post-mortem services so families no longer need to travel between different locations.

The building includes private viewing rooms, facilities for cultural washing, and quiet areas to support grieving families in a more respectful and peaceful environment.

Robin Binks, nursing director at University Hospitals of Northamptonshire, said the mortuary would provide families visiting their deceased loved ones with a "much nicer environment during a very difficult time".

In 2025, West Northamptonshire Council said the mortuary was needed because existing provision was "fragile and increasingly expensive".

The council added the new facility should save the authority nearly £500,000 a year.

The mortuary is designed to handle major incidents or disasters involving multiple fatalities, supporting the local resilience forum and improving coordination.

It also enables police to deploy family liaison officers more quickly, so families can be informed sooner.

Sadie Nightingale, head of coroners, registrations and bereavement services at the council, said: "We are very fortunate to have this facility in the county and hope it will make a difference to bereaved families."

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.