A new crematorium in Dartford is likely to get the go-ahead at a council meeting this evening .

Dignity PLC is also hoping to build a cemetery, memorial gardens and a car park on the site of the old Mabledon Hospital, which closed in 1986.

The 15.83 hectare zone now falls within the Metropolitan Green Belt, and the proposals for construction are strongly opposed by the Kent Wildlife Trust.

Neighbouring tenants have also been consulted, with 27 out of 30 object to the development citing local wildlife, traffic, air quality and the recent approval of another crematorium in Gravesend as some of their concerns.

A further crematorium has also been granted on appeal in Sevenoaks, which has led Gravesham council to ask for an updated assessment on the Dartford project based on those developments.

However, a Dignity spokesman was keen to highlight a number of benefits local people could expect should the project be approved.

He said: “We are proposing to develop a single-storey, state-of-the-art crematorium surrounded by 40 acres of beautifully landscaped Gardens of Remembrance and a cemetery on land that has already been allocated for this purpose.

“Our proposal has been recommended for approval by the planning officer. It would reduce journey times for bereaved families and the wait for a service at Eltham Crematorium – the busiest crematorium in the country.

“The crematorium would offer one-hour services, rather than the usual 30 minutes at most crematoria, so that mourners do not feel rushed on the day they want to remember their loved one.”

It is proposed that the crematorium will be open Monday to Friday and some weekends from 9.30am to 5.30pm, with three to four funerals per day.

Although the additional traffic in the area has been a topic of contention among residents, KCC Highways says the transport assessment provided is acceptable.

“Islands will be provided either end of the right-turn lane on Green Street Green Road in order to prevent overtaking at this point and to provide a pedestrian refuge,” said a spokesman.

“We are satisfied with the current proposals as revised and confirm that the access would not be detrimental to highway safety.”

Environmental Health has raised no issue with the potential dip in air quality in the area, while the plans have also been welcomed by Darenth Parish Council.

The development is expected to be approved as it represents the only suitable site for a crematorium in the borough.