Highgate Cemetery

For almost two centuries, Highgate Cemetery has been a sanctuary in a busy metropolis. Today, time and climate change have exposed the fragility of the historic structures and threaten the rich natural habitat. The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust’s ambitious conservation masterplan addresses these urgent issues to better meet the needs of its community of grave owners, visitors, volunteers, and local partner organisations.

The proposed conservation masterplan includes the repair and restoration of the site’s Grade I and II listed buildings, construction of discreet new buildings, further to extensive landscape works that will improve drainage, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

These proposals presented significant complexities due to the site’s heritage constraints, including diseased trees, flood risk considerations, and biodiversity ambitions for the landscape.

As Sustainability Advisors, our team developed a holistic sustainability strategy alongside the design team – setting out policy requirements in line with the Camden Local Plan 2017 and defining ‘stretch targets’ based on the New Draft Camden Local Plan and best practice guidance. This includes the Mayor of London’s aim for a net-zero carbon London by 2030, aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

To support delivery, a series of collaborative workshops were held with topic-specific sessions on whole life carbon and the circular economy. These workshops helped to align the project’s sustainability ambitions and to embed the agreed principles into the evolving design.

A sustainability statement for planning was also developed to support the application, summarising compliance with the Local Plan. In November 2025, Camden’s planning committee unanimously resolved to grant consent, subject to finalising the Section 106 agreement

In parallel, we worked closely with the Cemetery’s operations and gardening teams to develop a Sustainable Operations Action Plan. The Plan set out a series of practical actions to improve day-to-day operations across the site, combining quick wins with longer-term programmes covering energy, carbon, water, waste, biodiversity, and socio-economic impact. It is now being taken forward by the Trust to implement.