The Government has announced that it is acting to implement changes to building regulations for separate toilets in all new non-domestic public and private buildings
The new building regulations will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men or a self-contained, private toilet as a minimum.
The new building regulations for separate toilets are being enforced as some women and elderly people feel as though they are being ‘disadvantaged’ from gender-neutral bathrooms.
In addition to the new regulations, guidelines will encourage the consideration of self-contained toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.
A new short technical consultation to shape the changes has opened
Kemi Badenoch, minister for women and equalities, commented: “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.”
