Despite the economic shock caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, retailers and shopping centres throughout England are continuing to invest in inclusive toilets, making shopping accessible for more of the 230,000* who rely on the facilities.

Under the Government’s new Changing Places rules, which came into force in January 2021, shopping centres and retail parks with a gross floor area of 30,000m2 or more, or retail premises with a floor area of

 2,500m2 or more, will be required to install a Changing Places toilet if it is a new build or the building is undergoing a major refurbishment.

In news that will be very encouraging for campaigners and disabled shoppers, many retailers and shopping centres are taking the decision to install the toilets even without being required to do so under the new regulations.

Following the opening of a new Changing Places toilet in Guildford’s Friary Shopping Centre last year, the pace of installation has  increased considerably. Aveso’s partner Astor Bannerman is currently working with

multiple retailers and shopping centres to install accessible facilities across the country.

 

 

Inside the Guildford Friary Changing Place toilet

 

Rob James, Astor Bannerman’s Changing Places Project Manager, said:

“We have been working with a lot of retailers and shopping centres over the last few months. Kings Walk Shopping Centre in Gloucester, the Watford Tesco Extra Supermarket and a large shopping centre in the South East have all recently installed accessible toilets.”

RETAIL CHANGING PLACES RESOURCES

*In the UK alone, there are 11.4 million disabled people who require accessible toilets and over 230,000 people who need the additional support which Changing Places toilets provide. This can be broken down as follows:

  • 130,000 older people
  • 40,000 people with profound learning disabilities
  • 30,000 people with Cerebral Palsy
  • 13,000 people with acquired brain injury
  • 8,500 people with Multiple Sclerosis
  • 8,000 people with Spina Bifida
  • 500 people with Motor Neurone Disease

Discover Changing Places with Aveso

Interested in installing a Changing Places for your business? By dealing directly with Aveso you can be assured of cost-effective solutions as well as guidance on obtaining official Changing Places accreditation for the room. Book your consultation today to start the Changing Places conversation.

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