Ministers have announced measures to fulfil their pledge to “reverse the rise of gender-neutral toilets” by forcing non-residential buildings to provide single-sex facilities.
Buildings that are open to the public will be required to provide separate single-sex lavatories or self-contained, private non-gendered ones.
Kemi Badenoch, the 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.”
The government said the change had been driven by concerns