The petition of residents of the constituency of Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire,
Declares that West Bridgford town centre, alongside many other town centres across the country, is in need of dedicated Changing Places facilities to make the town centre more accessible, particularly for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Rushcliffe Borough Council to explore reallocating funds to deliver Changing Places facilities in West Bridgford as soon as possible, and to make the delivery of Changing Places facilities a national policy priority.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by James Naish, Official Report, 12 November 2025; Vol. 775, c. 278.]
[P003129]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Miatta Fahnbulleh):
Our £30.5 million Changing Places toilet programme, which closed on 31 March 2025, supported the targeted installation of 483 new disabled toilet facilities in the most needed locations throughout England.
Although this programme has ended, changes to building regulations have ensured continuation by making it mandatory to include Changing Places facilities in new public buildings (or those undergoing major redevelopment) that fall above a certain size threshold. This aims to significantly increase the availability of these vital facilities over time and makes accessibility a mainstream consideration in how we plan and build our public spaces.
Local authorities are best placed to assess and manage toilet provision. However, we recognise the challenges they face and have taken steps to support them. At the 2025 spending review, the Government committed over £5 billion in new grant funding over the next three years for essential local services. In addition, the Government maintains 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets, reducing ongoing costs for councils and supporting the continued development and operation of these vital facilities.
Rushcliffe borough council has already benefited from the Changing Places programme, having been awarded funding to deliver three Changing Places facilities—at the visitor centre at Rushcliffe country park, at Gresham sports pavilion, and at Cotgrave leisure centre.