New legislation will be brought forward for single sex toilet facilities in new non-domestic buildings to alleviate safety, privacy and dignity concerns.
These changes to building regulations, which were unveiled prior to the General Election announcement, will mean that new non-domestic buildings, including restaurants, will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men.
The new legislation follows the results of a consultation on the proposals, where responses showed 81% agreed with the intention for separate single-sex toilet facilities and 82% agreed with the intention to provide universal toilets where space allows.
A universal toilet is self-contained, and a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.
Concerns from women, elderly and the disabled
Responses highlighted particular concerns from women, elderly and the disabled who felt unfairly disadvantaged as publicly accessible toilets are increasingly being converted into gender neutral facilities where users share cubicle and hand-washing facilities. This leads to increasing waiting in shared queues, decreased choice and less privacy and dignity.
The new requirements will mean everyone can access appropriate facilities either through a separate single-sex space or a self-contained, universal toilet.
Changes to building regulations will ensure that separate single-sex toilets facilities are provided for men and women; that self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition to single-sex toilets, where space allows and that self-contained universal toilets may be provided instead of single-sex toilets only where lack of space reasonably precludes provision of single-sex toilet accommodation.
