Do all buildings need single-sex toilet facilities?

No. From late 2024 all New Buildings and buildings that have a change of use are required to have single-sex Toilet facilities but existing buildings do not have to alter unisex Toilet Facilities. But there are exceptions:

What is the difference between Unisex, Gender Neutral and Universal Toilets?

There is no real difference, all of them are for use by both sexes. Universal Toilets tend to be self contained, single toilet rooms with sink and hand driers whereas Unisex and Gender Neutral Toilets often contain multiple toilets.

Are Colleges subject to the new Government Gender Neutral Regulations?

No. While Colleges are not required to have single-sex Toilet Facilities the same safeguarding considerations apply.

Are existing buildings affected by the new Government Gender Neutral Regulations?

No. Existing buildings are not affected by the new Government Gender Neutral Regulations but the same safeguarding considerations apply.

What buildings are excluded from the new Government Gender Neutral Regulations?

Exemptions are Residential Homes, en-suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes, residential rooms in care homes, premises used wholly or mainly for early years provision, schools and cellular accommodation in custodial facilities will not be required to provide single-sex Toilet Facilities.

8 Things we learned from new Single-Sex Toilet Guidelines

May 8, 2024

It will become compulsory to provide single-sex toilets in all New Restaurants and Offices under new laws that take affect later this year.

Building Regulations will be amended to require, and here's eight things we learned:

All New Office Buildings and Restaurants or existing Buildings that change use must provide separate Toilets for Women and Men
Gender Neutral, or Unisex Toilets may be provided in addition to single-sex Toilets if space allows and only after Single Sex Toilets have been provided.
Existing buildings are not affected.
Domestic buildings are not affected.
Changes will apply in England Only.
There are exemptions - residential homes, en-suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes, residential rooms in care homes, and premises used wholly or mainly for early years provision, schools and cellular accommodation in custodial facilities will not be required to provide single-sex Toilet Facilities.
Universal Toilets, or self-contained, private toilets, are fully enclosed toilet rooms with wash-hand basins for individual use.
While colleges are not subject to the same requirements, they should take the same approach, given that the same safeguarding considerations apply.

These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called “gender-neutral” mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women.

Kemi Badenoch
Secretary of State for Business and Trade

Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch says "These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called “gender-neutral” mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women."

Source: Gov.uk

Changes to building regulations will mean that new non-domestic buildings, including restaurants, shopping centres, offices and public toilets will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men. Self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition, where space allows, or instead of single-sex toilets where there isn’t enough space.

In addition, the Department for Education re-enforced that schools are required to comply with minimum standards, including that separate toilets for boys and girls aged 8 years and over are to be provided. While colleges are not subject to the same legal requirements, they should take the same approach given the same safeguarding considerations apply.

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