UK guidance on single-sex spaces based on biological sex

New official guidance requiring single-sex spaces across England, Scotland, and Wales to be organized by biological sex has come into effect, reshaping the operation of public facilities from toilets and changing rooms to hospital wards and domestic violence refuges. The updated statutory Code of Practice, published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), took effect on August 5, 2026, and provides practical instructions for organizations on applying a landmark Supreme Court ruling from April 2025.

That ruling determined that the terms "woman," "man," and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex, rather than gender identity. The new code clarifies that for a service to be legally described as single-sex, it must be based on this definition. Consequently, transgender individuals are to use facilities matching their sex assigned at birth when single-sex services are provided, though the guidance encourages organizations to offer alternative provisions such as gender-neutral or self-contained facilities to ensure access for everyone.

The guidance applies to a wide range of settings including schools, hospitals, leisure centers, restaurants, and sports...