A planning application has been submitted to convert Legacy Independent Funeral Directors' Hessle Road site into a vehicle repair garage.

The application has been validated by Hull City Council and will now enter consultation process before a decision on the site's future is made. Legacy Independent Funeral Directors own three sites in East Yorkshire, two in Hull and one in Beverley.

Of the company's three sites it was the property in question, 171-177 Hessle Road in Hull, from where 35 bodies and an amount of human ashes were removed by Humberside Police earlier this year.

It came after police received a report expressing concerns about the storage and management processes relating to care of the deceased at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. Cordons were quickly put in place at all three sites - on Hessle Road, Anlaby Road, and in Beverley.

The 35 deceased were identified and relatives informed. However, police were unable to identify the ashes.

Speaking at a press conference at the time, Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said that while the ashes were properly cremated, DNA had been degraded by high temperatures making it impossible to recover. At the time, the force confirmed it was contacting 163 families in relation to them.

Police outside the Hessle Road branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, west Hull, on March 9, after an investigation was launched into a report of 'concern for care of the deceased'.
Police outside the Hessle Road branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, west Hull, on March 9, after an investigation was launched into a report of 'concern for care of the deceased'.

Hull City Council and East Riding Council have since committed to establishing a permanent memorial for those affected by the investigation.

A man arrested in March as well as a woman arrested in July remain on conditional police bail while enquiries continue. A woman arrested in March has been released unconditionally.

In an update last week, Assistant Chief Constable McLoughlin said: “This investigation is by far the most challenging and complex due to the vast number of people who have been affected, and who continue to try to come to terms with the grief and the enormity of what has happened.

“We are at a stage now where we are in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and discussions have been taking place between specialist CPS lawyers and ourselves in respect of the investigation.

“Based on these discussions and on reviewing the evidence as part of the investigation, our Senior Investigating Officer has made the decision that a woman arrested in March this year, is now no longer a suspect and has been released from bail with no further action to be taken.

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“The families of the 35 deceased have been updated and contact made with other families who have been affected to advise of the update.

“Every strand of this investigation carries an untold amount of grief, heartache and distress for those who have been affected, and we will always provide updates as and when we are able to about the progression and next steps, after those who have been so deeply affected are informed first.

“A man arrested in March and a woman arrested in July, remain on conditional police bail as enquiries continue.

“I want to offer my assurance that our dedicated investigation team continue to work tirelessly to gather and assess evidence, and work is continually ongoing in the preparation of our casefile for submission to the CPS.

“I would please ask people to remember that at the heart of this investigation are devastated families, loved ones and friends, and getting them the answers and justice they desperately need and deserve will always remain our priority.”

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