You may have noticed changes to toilet signage and new wayfinding signs in some buildings recently. We know these appeared before a wider communication went out, so wanted to provide some context.
This work is part of an ongoing University review of toilet, shower and changing room facilities, prompted by recent legal and regulatory developments, including the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland (referenced in my update of June 2025) and the new Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice.
Our aim is to ensure legal compliance while considering the needs of, and maintaining an inclusive environment for all users - staff, students and visitors. We will continue to provide male, female and all-gender facilities (and please note that single-user lockable cubicles can be used by anyone) as well as accessible and baby-changing facilities.
What has changed?
There will be several phases of work in this area as we aim to meet our long-term goal of ensuring there are adequate facilities for everyone in every building on campus. The first phase has focused on redesignating facilities where possible and installing temporary signage and wayfinding signage where signs were unclear or inconsistent.
Five buildings have had toilet facilities redesignated as part of phase one, to ensure legal compliance and to help everyone find the facilities which they need:
- In Arts B, one set of toilets has been redesignated as all-gender, with wayfinding signage from elsewhere in the building.
- In the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, toilet facilities which were previously marked as all-gender have been re-designated as female and male. Wayfinding signage has been installed to the nearest all-gender facilities which are in Falmer House, which will remain open when events are running at the Attenborough Centre.
- In JMS lecture theatre, a set of toilets previously labelled all-gender has been redesignated as male. One accessible cubicle in the building has been redesignated as all-gender.
- In Sussex House, one set of toilets on the ground floor (staff entrance level) has been redesignated as all-gender, with wayfinding signage around the rest of the building installed. All other toilets have been clarified as female and male.
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In the Thermo Fluids Laboratory building, a standalone female toilet cubicle has been redesignated as all-gender by adding a lock to the outside, making it suitable for everyone – male, female and all-gender users.
Some temporary signage which was initially installed in Sussex House was incorrect and has now been replaced. We apologise to anyone who was affected by the incorrect signage.
Temporary wayfinding signage has also now gone up in buildings with limited or no all-gender, accessible or single-user lockable provision, directing users to the nearest facility elsewhere on campus.These buildings are:
- Biomedical Research Facility
- Chichester II
- Fulton Building
- JMS
- Norwich House / Norwich House Bungalow
- Richmond
- Sports Centre
The Sports Centre currently has no all-gender shower and changing facilities, therefore wayfinding signage has been installed there to direct users to the nearest all-gender facilities in Falmer House, which will remain open during the Sports Centre’s normal opening hours.
All other buildings are considered to have adequate provision of toilet facilities currently, but the next phase of the process will involve reviewing these and ensuring all signage is clear. One long-term outcome of this work will be a full list of all toilet facilities available across the whole of campus, and inclusive facilities for all in easy reach.
What happens next?
The campus-wide review continues, with Estates and other teams assessing further improvements required and longer-term options where provision falls short. A full signage audit is underway, and permanent replacements will be installed ahead of the start of the new academic year in mid-September.
We are reviewing possible signage for all-gender facilities, and, supported by the Equality Diversity and Inclusion team,will be consulting with staff networks and stakeholders to help inform the wider programme. If anyone finds that the existing provision of appropriate facilitiesis not adequate, or if you have any other feedback, please contact Estates at estateshelpdesk@sussex.ac.uk.
Updates will continue to be shared through Inclusive Sussex updates and in University-wide communications from Estates.