The British government has announced new regulations to protect “privacy and dignity” in commercial and public buildings. The regulations require separate facilities for men and women in newbuilds and major rebuild projects. This change aims to ensure safety, privacy, and dignity for all users. Buildings such as bars, restaurants, offices, schools, and hospitals must provide separate lavatories for men and women to receive planning permission.
Exceptions will be made for premises where providing two sets of restrooms is not feasible. In such cases, self-contained facilities with a toilet, sink, and hand-dryer in a single, lockable room will be required to maintain privacy. These facilities are described as “dedicated, self-contained ‘unisex’ toilets that ensure privacy for the single user.”
According to government officials, these regulations will better meet the biological, health, and sanitary needs of women. The goal is to eliminate gender-neutral mixed-sex toilets, which can compromise privacy and dignity for both men and women.
The government’s decision to implement these changes follows concerns raised about the impact of gender-neutral facilities on women’s health and comfort. Opposition to the plan has been voiced by some groups, including the charity Mermaids, who advocate for inclusive restroom facilities to accommodate all individuals, including transgender and non-binary people.
