Single-sex toilet law proposed for new buildings

Future buildings in England will be required to have separate male and female toilets under proposed legislation, the Government has said.

The law will affect new non-residential buildings as part of a push “ending the rise” of gender-neutral toilets, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch announced and will be via a change to building regulations.

The proposed legislation is the result of a consultation, which highlighted concerns from women, elderly, and disabled people who felt “unfairly disadvantaged” by toilets being converted into gender-neutral facilities sharing cubicles and sinks.

The Government hopes to present the legislation in the next few weeks and, if approved, bring it into effect later this year.

The change to building regulations will allow contained “universal” toilets in addition to single-sex toilets where space allows, or instead of single-sex toilets where space is at a premium. A “universal” toilet is defined by the Government as a self-contained room with a toilet and sink for individual use.

The legislation will also apply to buildings going through major refurbishment.

John Gaunt & Partners will keep an eye on this proposed item of legislation as it makes its way through the Parliamentary process.