Plans have been submitted to build the first-ever crematorium in the Royal Borough.

The application is with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to develop the crematorium on a secluded site off Switchback Road North at Long Lane.

If approved, it would be the first crematorium built in the Royal Borough and would serve bereaved families from Maidenhead, Marlow, and surrounding areas.

Currently, families in the borough face long waiting times for funerals, especially in winter, and have to travel further afield to Chilterns Crematorium in Amersham, Reading, or Bracknell.

The crematorium in Slough was described as 'unwelcoming, drab and dated' by funeral directors.

The new crematorium would help reduce waiting times for funerals by easing the pressure on other crematoriums in the area.

The developer, Elegy, has spent five months listening to comments and modifying the design to minimise any impact on neighbours.

Richard Evans, managing director of Elegy, said: "We carried out an extensive consultation over the summer, and the reaction was more positive than we expected.

"In response to feedback, we have been able to make a number of changes to our design and layout, to ensure that the building is as discreet as possible and offers the best service to the bereaved."

"We would expect a lot of local opposition from neighbours who worry about increased traffic and air quality.

"We have been able to reassure them that we will be holding an average of four funerals a day on weekdays only.

"And it’s important to remember that modern crematoria are fitted with state-of-the-art filtration equipment - they are smoke-free."

Some residents fully support the new crematorium, describing the location as 'as near perfect as you’d hope.'

Funeral officiants, both religious and humanist, have welcomed the plans, stating that it will avoid the 'conveyor belt' feel suffered by other crematoriums in the area.

The crematorium will provide a less hurried option, with an hour between services, enabling families to have a personal, dignified service.

Mr Evans said: "The Royal Borough crematorium would provide a less hurried, more local option, with an hour between services, enabling families to have a personal, dignified service."

Julian Walker, funeral director of AB Walker, Berkshire’s largest independent funeral business, said: "At last, families in this area are going to be able to get better spacing between funeral services and a less rushed funeral experience.

"They are going to be able to have a funeral of their choice, free from the pressure of others.

"That means so much to people when they are suffering a bereavement."