Guiding Principles

As a business that prioritises care and respect for its customers, ensuring facilities support dignity and comfort is fundamental to a positive experience. To achieve this, the design of our public toilets should:

Cater effectively to diverse user groups by providing appropriate capacity

Offer a fair and inclusive distribution of facilities across genders

Provide ample space to support ease of movement and accessibility

Maintain privacy through thoughtful layout and partitioning

Promote comfort and hygiene with fresh air circulation, reliable drainage, and quality lighting

Include a reliable method for capturing user feedback to guide future improvements

Ensuring safety is a fundamental aspect of designing public facilities. As spaces open to all, service station toilets must be planned with features that reduce opportunities for antisocial behaviour and support a secure environment. A well-considered design should:

Address potential security concerns, including the risk of targeted attacks

Minimise opportunities for hiding prohibited items such as drugs or weapons

Ensure that emergency personnel can access the space quickly and easily when needed

Incorporate clear sightlines, consistent lighting, and CCTV coverage to deter misuse

Promote transparency and reassurance through the visible presence of security monitoring

Comply with fire safety regulations through a durable and location-specific fire strategy

As a high-traffic motorway service area, our toilet facilities experience an unusually large and varied volume of users. To ensure long-term performance, the design must prioritise durability, ease of upkeep, and extended lifespan. Effective solutions should include:

The use of resilient, low-maintenance materials and fittings that resist damage and are easy to clean

Well-planned service zones to allow for efficient maintenance access without disrupting public areas

Construction details that minimise the effort and frequency required for cleaning and upkeep

Our ambition is to lead by example in providing fully inclusive and accessible toilet facilities that serve all user groups and reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion. To achieve this, design should incorporate:

Clear, intuitive wayfinding to support easy navigation for all visitors

Fully accessible amenities that meet or exceed regulatory standards

Gender-neutral options to promote inclusivity and user choice

Thoughtfully designed provisions for children, including suitable childcare facilities

Changing Places toilets to accommodate individuals with complex care needs requiring additional space and support

Westmorland is committed to reducing carbon emissions and minimising the consumption of natural resources. Good
design should consider
sustainability from the
outset and include:

• Materials which minimise embodied
carbon
• Fittings which minimise water and detergent consumption
• Low energy lighting sources
• Exclusion of CFC’s and formaldehyde
• Selection of materials from sustainable sources