Construction has been completed on Elgin’s new Linkwood Cemetery, creating a major new burial site that will serve the community for decades to come.

The 5.6 hectare development, located between Linkwood Road and Hallowood Road in Elgin, has been built to provide long term burial capacity as the town’s existing cemetery approaches its limits.

The site was identified through Moray Council’s Local Development Plan as the most suitable location for a replacement cemetery and covers an area roughly equivalent to almost eight football pitches.

Delivered by Pat Munro Ltd, the project includes internal access roads, parking facilities, pedestrian pathways and extensive landscaping designed to create a peaceful and accessible environment for visitors.

While construction work has now been completed, the cemetery will not open immediately.

Large areas of grass have been sown across the burial sections and time is needed for the ground to settle naturally and for the landscaping to become fully established.

The year long establishment period is intended to ensure the cemetery is ready to welcome visitors in a respectful and sustainable way when burials begin.

Nature has also played an important role in the design of the new site.

More than 1,000 trees will be planted alongside extensive areas of shrubs and wildflowers, helping to improve biodiversity and create a greener environment for future generations.

Pat Munro Ltd will remain involved with the project until December 2026 through a 12 month maintenance programme.

This period will allow the contractor to monitor and care for the newly landscaped areas and ensure they establish successfully before the site opens to the public.

The new cemetery is expected to come into use during early 2027.

Once Linkwood Cemetery opens, the existing Elgin Cemetery will close to new burials.

However, some services will continue at the existing site for several years.

Coffin lairs that still have remaining burial capacity will continue to be used, while Muslim burials, infant burials and ashes interments will also remain available there.

Moray Council says the new cemetery provides certainty for the future and ensures sufficient burial provision for a growing community.

The development represents one of the most significant investments in burial infrastructure in the area for many years.

Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Councillor Marc Macrae, said:

“The completion of construction at Elgin’s new cemetery marks a significant milestone for the community.

“This development ensures we have the capacity to meet future needs while providing a peaceful and dignified environment for families to remember their loved ones.”

For local families, the completion of Linkwood Cemetery marks the beginning of a new chapter that combines practical long term planning with a carefully designed setting intended to offer comfort, reflection and remembrance for generations to come.