Staffordshire Moorlands District Council cemetery fees
Current burial and cemetery fees for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, effective 1 April 2026 (2026/27). Cemetery services are managed by Alliance Environmental Services in partnership with Cheshire East Council. The fee schedule uses three pricing tiers: Leek Parish residents, all other SMDC residents, and out-of-area residents.
Grave space purchase (exclusive right of burial)
| Plot type | Leek Parish resident | SMDC resident | Out of area |
|---|---|---|---|
| New coffin grave (including woodland graves) | £780 | £1,560 | £2,340 |
| Cremated remains grave | £390 | £780 | £1,170 |
| Pre-purchased coffin grave | £920 | £1,840 | £2,760 |
| Pre-purchased cremated remains grave | £460 | £920 | £1,380 |
A Leek Parish resident is a person who lives – or dies – within the parish of Leek, including former long-term residents (10+ years) who moved out within the last two years. SMDC residents are those living elsewhere in the Staffordshire Moorlands District. Out-of-area residents pay three times the Leek Parish rate.
Burial and interment fees
| Service | Leek Parish resident | SMDC resident | Out of area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffin – single depth or woodland burial | £850 | £1,700 | £2,550 |
| Coffin – double depth | £940 | £1,880 | £2,820 |
| Coffin – triple depth (Leek Cemetery only) | £1,100 | £2,200 | £3,300 |
| Cremated remains casket burial | £280 | £560 | £840 |
| Lawn burial of loose ashes | £175 | £350 | £525 |
| Cremated remains casket – Garden of Remembrance | £207 | £414 | £621 |
Reopened graves for those not residing in Leek Parish are charged at the SMDC resident rate. The maximum charge for interment in a reopened grave is double (SMDC rate).
Children’s burials
Children’s burials are free of charge (funded via the Children’s Funeral Fund for England, which covers burial or cremation fees for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy – the local authority claims these fees on the family’s behalf). A child’s coffin grave or ashes grave, and a child’s single-use memorial on any grave type, are provided at no charge.
Where a family chooses to purchase a dedicated child’s grave space rather than use the free option, the following rates apply:
| Plot type | Leek Parish resident | SMDC resident | Out of area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child’s new full-size grave | £780 | £1,560 | £2,340 |
| Child’s ashes grave | £390 | £780 | £1,170 |
Where such a grave is purchased, the interment fee is separate:
| Service | Leek Parish resident | SMDC resident | Out of area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child’s new full-size grave or reopened grave (interment) | £425 | £850 | £1,275 |
Exhumation
Exhumation is charged per grave at double the standard applicable interment fee.
Memorial fees
| Memorial type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New or replacement upright memorial (including first inscription) | £197 |
| Desk tablet or vase (including first inscription) | £140 |
| Replacement memorial | £140 |
| Additional inscription | £80 |
| Child’s memorial (single use, any grave type) | No charge |
Other fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bronze or granite memorial plaque (up to 75 letters) | £468 |
| Sponsored cast bronze tree plaque | £468 |
| Sponsored memorial bench and bronze plaque | £1,620 |
| Replacement or transfer of grave deed | £57 |
| Search fee | £37.20 per half hour |
| Grave selection by purchaser | £31 |
| Large coffin surcharge (both dimensions over 6ft 5in and 25in) | £82.50 |
| Cancellation within 72 hours of burial | £82.50 |
| Coffin size not confirmed within 48 hours of burial | £82.50 |
| Headstone not removed from grave when requested | £82.50 |
| Paperwork not received in cemetery office before burial | £82.50 |
| Late arrival of funeral (over 30 minutes) | £82.50 |
About Staffordshire Moorlands cemeteries
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council owns two cemeteries within the district. Cemetery services are administered by Alliance Environmental Services in partnership with Cheshire East Council. The three-tier pricing structure – Leek Parish, SMDC district, and out of area – is designed to reflect the pattern of the council’s burial authority and the historic role of Leek Cemetery as the primary site.
For enquiries, contact Alliance Bereavement Services on 01625 383945 or email alliancecemeteries@cheshireeast.gov.uk.
Fees verified 2026-08-11, effective 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 (2026/27). Source: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council – Cemetery fees 2026/27.