Plans submitted for changing places toilet to improve disabled provision at popular Sunderland park

Sunderland City Council has submitted an application to its own planning department for Herrington Country Park.

The park has seen investment in recent years in response to rising numbers of visitors, with a revamped café at the site now occupied by business Love Lily.

Proposed spending in upcoming city council budgets could also see almost £1 million invested into expanding parking at the country park.

A new planning application submitted this month aims to improve accessibility for visitors and is linked to land adjacent to the public toilet block and visitor car park.

Plans include the introduction of a Changing Places toilet, which are designed to meet the needs of disabled children and adults with complex care needs who need carer support, appropriate equipment and more space.

According to a report discussed by Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet this year, standard accessible toilets are “unsuitable” for this group as they lack specialist equipment, such as hoists and privacy screens, and space for carers.

The country park planning bid follows a recent decision by city leaders to make several Sunderland leisure venues and attractions more accessible for people with disabilities.

Subject to planning approval, a Changing Places modular toilet would be provided at Herrington Country Park.

According to submitted plans, the facility would offer a range of accessibility aids such as a ‘ceiling hoist and track’ and ‘height adjustable adult changing bench’, as well as a “wall mounted panel heater” and electric shower.

Efforts to make visitor attractions more accessible to the public have already been explored by other local authorities, including South Tyneside Council.

A cabinet report discussed by Sunderland City Council in March, 2023, said Sunderland’s Changing Places Toilet programme “closely aligned” with key council plans.

This included Sunderland’s City Plan, Healthy City Plan and Health Inequalities Strategy.

Councillors, at the time, were told that the main objective of the Changing Places scheme was to “make public venues more accessible to all residents including those with physical and learning disabilities”.

A decision on the Changing Places toilet at Herrington Country Park is expected to be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.

Information on Sunderland City Council’s planning portal website lists a decision deadline of February 8, 2024.

For more information on the plan or to track its progress, visit the council’s planning portal website and search reference: 23/02556/LP3