Tías Cemetery Expansion Will Create 969 New Burial Spaces in Lanzarote
Work has begun on the long-planned expansion of the Tías municipal cemetery in Lanzarote, with earthmoving currently taking place ahead of the construction of new niches and other burial facilities.
The project will provide 969 additional burial spaces and is being funded entirely by the Tías Town Hall, with the current project value reported at around €1.49 million.
For residents of Tías and surrounding areas, the expansion is an important addition to the municipality’s cemetery infrastructure, particularly as existing burial capacity has become increasingly limited.
969 new burial spaces planned
The new section of Tías Cemetery will include several different types of burial and memorial facilities rather than simply adding more traditional niches.
The project provides for:
- 762 niches across seven separate blocks
- 80 columbaria
- 35 ossuaries
- 92 traditional graves
Together, these facilities will provide 969 new places for burials and remains.
The development will be constructed on a parcel adjoining the western side of the existing cemetery, creating an extension that will ultimately connect with the current cemetery so the site can function as one integrated facility. The original tender documentation identifies the site as being in the Crucita area of the municipality of Tías.
A more accessible cemetery design
One of the notable aspects of the Tías cemetery expansion is that the project is not simply about increasing the number of burial spaces.
The design incorporates accessible routes throughout the new area, intended to make it easier for visitors to move around the cemetery, including people with reduced mobility.
There will also be three accessible itineraries, along with simpler internal routes designed to make the layout easier to navigate.
This is particularly relevant for a cemetery, where many visitors may be elderly or have mobility difficulties.
Shaded areas and new green spaces
The plans also place considerable emphasis on creating a calmer and more attractive setting.
Two large central plazas are planned within the development. These areas are intended to act as meeting and distribution points, with shaded areas and landscaped surroundings.
Trees and native vegetation will be incorporated into the landscaping, helping to provide shade while creating some separation between the main gathering areas and the burial sections.
The design also makes use of the natural characteristics of the site. The land has a slight slope and the southern section offers views towards the sea, meaning visitors are expected to have sea views from many parts of the new cemetery.
The use of local vegetation and traditional masonry elements is intended to help the new development fit into the surrounding landscape of Tías, Lanzarote.
The expansion has been planned for a site of more than 10,900 square metres
The area being developed covers just over 10,900 square metres, although the current project focuses on the southern part of the overall parcel.
The layout has been designed around the site’s existing characteristics rather than creating a completely flat development, with pedestrian routes and landscaped areas incorporated into the design.
This approach should give the new section of Tías Cemetery a more open appearance than a simple extension of burial blocks.
Why is Tías Cemetery being expanded?
The need for additional cemetery capacity has been developing for several years.
Previous municipal documentation highlighted the pressure on the existing cemetery, with many of its niches, graves, columbaria and ossuaries already occupied. In 2023, the municipality was already reporting that recently constructed niches were reaching capacity, creating a need for additional facilities.
The latest expansion therefore represents a much larger response to that need, providing hundreds of additional spaces for future burials and the placement of cremated remains.
The project has been included within the municipality’s public works and procurement documentation, with the tender process originally carrying a base budget of approximately €1.5 million including taxes.
When will the Tías cemetery expansion be finished?
The project is currently under construction, with earthmoving and preparatory work already underway.
At this stage, the available information does not give a confirmed public completion date, so residents should not assume that the 969 new spaces will be immediately available.
The current phase involves preparing the site before the construction of the new niches and other elements of the cemetery extension.
Further details about completion and when the individual burial spaces will become available are expected as the project progresses.
An important project for local residents
Tías is home to a large permanent population, as well as many international residents and people who have made the municipality their long-term home. Providing sufficient cemetery and memorial facilities is therefore an important part of planning for the community’s future.
The new development is also designed with accessibility, landscaping and visitor comfort in mind, rather than focusing solely on the number of additional burial spaces.
With work now underway, the Tías Cemetery expansion is set to become a substantial addition to the municipality’s facilities, providing much-needed capacity while creating a greener, more accessible and carefully planned environment for families visiting loved ones in the years ahead.
