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Government accelerates plans for separate male and
female toilets in new non-domestic private and public
buildings;
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Builds upon action to protect and enhance single sex
spaces;
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Changes will also encourage the provision of
self-contained, private toilets to ensure there are appropriate
facilities for all.
The Government has announced today it is acting to bring forward
changes to regulations that will mean all new non-domestic public
and private buildings will be required to provide separate
single-sex toilets for women and men and/or a self-contained,
private toilet as a minimum.
The change comes amid dignity and privacy concerns from women and
elderly people who feel they are being unfairly disadvantaged as
publicly accessible toilets are increasingly being converted into
gender neutral facilities.
Concerns over the rise of neutral gender facilities has meant
that public have been forced to share cubicle and hand-washing
facilities, leading to increasing waiting in shared queues,
decreased choice and a limitation on privacy and dignity for all.
New regulations and guidance will mean women, who may need to use
facilities more often because of pregnancy or sanitary needs,
will now be guaranteed appropriate facilities either through a
separate single-sex space or through a self-contained, private
toilet.
The action taken today builds upon the Government’s commitment
and wider approach to the protection of single sex spaces.
In addition to single sex toilets becoming the default and
minimum for new non-residential buildings and places undertaking
major refurbishment, the guidelines will encourage the
consideration of self-contained toilets, which are a fully
enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.
This new approach will help to maximise privacy and dignity for
of all, which will be explicit in the guidance.
A new short technical consultation to shape the changes will
open tomorrow.
, Minister for Women and
Equalities, said:
"It is important that everybody has privacy and dignity when
using public facilities. Yet the move towards 'gender neutral'
toilets has removed this fundamental right for women and girls.
"These proposals will ensure every new building in England is
required to provide separate male and female or unisex
facilities, and publish guidance to explain the difference,
protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of all."
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith &
Communities, Baroness Scott, said:
“It is extremely important women can feel comfortable when using
public facilities, so we are taking action to restore dignity and
privacy at the centre of all future provision.
“These proposals will mean separate toilets for men and women, as
well as self-contained toilets for those that need them, become a
requirement for every new building across England.”
A previous call for evidence on increasing the accessibility of
toilets for men and women gathered over 17,000 responses and
represented a full range of views – generally calling for greater
consideration in the range of toilets to preserve dignity,
access, equality, and privacy for all.
The changes will be made through building regulations and
guidance. The aim of the new requirements will ensure that:
- Separate single-sex toilets facilities are provided for men
and women; and/or
- Self-contained, private toilets are provided where space
allows to ensure privacy and safety;
- Mixed sex shared facilities are not an option, except when
lack of space allows only a single toilet
Changing the rules for single sex and/or universal toilets
to be required would have positive equality outcomes for those
who may not currently feel safe while using toilet
facilities.
Notes to editors
The aim of the proposed new requirement is to ensure that:
- Separate single-sex toilets
facilities are provided for men and women; and/or
- Self-contained, private toilets are
provided where space allows to ensure privacy and safety
The requirement will apply to all toilets which form part of or
serve the new building, with some exceptions. It will not apply
to: ensuite facilities in individual rooms for residential
purposes and care homes.
While separate toilet facilities for boys and girls
aged 8 years or over must already be provided in Schools, except
where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be
secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil
at a time – the consultation will reinforce the principle.
Any changes will affect England only.
The impact of the requirement on new buildings will be minimal as
the regulations will result in limited, if any, increase in space
provision compared to current practice.
This proposed policy will have a positive impact for many people.
It may reduce queues for disabled people’s toilets – which may,
in cases, be the only non-gendered toilets available – and
enhance the privacy of women and transgender people, who may be
fearful of being verbally or physically assaulted while using
toilet facilities.
In the consultation document and accompanying documents, the
phrase universal toilets is used. This refers to self-contained,
private toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a
wash hand basin for individual use.
