A new toilet block could be built next to Sidmouth Swimming Pool, if planning permission is approved by officers.

Application 23/2537/FUL was submitted by Kendall Kingscott Ltd on behalf of East Devon District Council (EDDC) and involves building a single toilet block with single, pay-to-use access cubicles with a mix of unisex, accessible WCs and a baby changing room in Ham East car park.

The scheme is part part of the EDDC Public Toilet Investment Programme which aims to renew the public convenience facilities across East Devon. A similar application has been submitted by Kendall Kingscott Ltd to re-develop the loos in Foxholes car park in Exmouth and Lace Walk in Honiton.

The application says: "The proposed design will be more efficient, cheaper and easier to run and maintain than the existing and will better serve the community and visitors.

"The design for the new public toilets at Sidmouth will provide for the accessibility needs of the site and pool. The new building will provide for the need of public toilets on the site and will also provide new place-making strategies with planting and seating to encourage public use."

Changing Places facilities are spacious toilets with an adult-sized changing bench and a hoist so that they can be used by profoundly disabled people and their carers. 

The Changing Places facility will be exclusively for the use of people with profound disabilities that severely limit mobility and who cannot use standard accessible toilets. Able people, or less able people that can still use a standard accessible toilet, will not have access to it.

There are currently no existing buildings on the site, parking spaces will be lost in the Ham East short-stay car park, which will 'either be lost or relocated to accommodate the new building footprint.'

The new site will create a courtyard space around the entrance of Sidmouth Swimming Pool on the existing car park, alongside new planters and a cycle rack for patrons of the swimming pool.

The application has been submitted to East Devon District Council and will be reviewed by planning officers before being approved or refused.