A former Soho toilet once labelled “the top cottaging spot in the UK” looks set to be used either as a café or for retail space in the latest stage of an ongoing saga.
The new submission, filed on behalf of Westminster City Council, the local authority, has however been criticised due to there being a lack of local public toilet facilities in the borough.
Lucy Haine, Acting Chair of The Soho Society, said that with increasing footfall in the area “we want a public realm to meet demand, which includes public toilets”.
Cllr David Boothroyd, Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform at Westminster City Council, said the application “is about making better use of a former public toilet and creating a safer and more welcoming environment in the West End”.
The Broadwick Street site opposite The Ivy was shut in 2021 due to repeated reports of sexual activity. An Automatic Public Convenience is provided at ground level on the street.
A Met Police email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) before it shut said: “Broadwick Street toilets was listed as the top cottaging spot in the UK. This is all taking place directly in front of urinals with no attempt to hide the behaviour from anyone that would want to use the toilets. When the toilets are open we receive calls about this on a regular basis.”
A 25-year lease was reportedly agreed with Lift Coffee the year after and a planning application was submitted in late 2024 to transform it into a café and events space.
As revealed by the LDRS earlier this year a webpage by property advisers FMX, however, suggested the site had been put back on the market.
A council spokesperson confirmed the agreement on the lease had stalled and that Westminster was working on its own application for a change of use at the site. It is understood Lift’s option to let the property has now expired.
The new submission, filed earlier this month, is requesting permission to amend the use of the former toilet to “café or retail use” plus the removal of the existing A/C unit on Broadwick Street. Documents filed as part of the application specifically reference Lift’s proposal, which included a takeaway stall at ground level.
“In countrast [sic], the application currently being proposed will not include any above ground works,” it states.
In a summary of the proposals it is written: “This application seeks to change the site use to Class E to unlock its potential and bring a unique space to the borough. The change will significantly improve the value of the site, drawing in activity and interest.”
Ms Haine said: “The Soho Society is opposed to this change of use of a toilet to a café. With ever greater footfall in the area we want a public realm to meet demand, which includes public toilets. The Soho Society are members of the London Loo Alliance and support the Neighbourhood Plan’s recommendations, made last year in the study of toilet provision in Soho – Caught Short.
“We have repeatedly lobbied Westminster City Council on this issue. Public toilets provision is not good enough in the West End, and discriminates against women, the elderly and those less able to access public spaces.”
Cllr Tim Barnes, a Conservative representative of the West End ward, said: “The public toilets in Soho were a key issue in the 2022 local elections and Labour promised they would all be reopened within months. But instead of opening them as toilets they are all being sold off to become coffee shops. Just another broken promise from this appalling council.”
Cllr Boothroyd said: “Broadwick Street’s public toilet is now above ground in an automated and accessible facility. This planning application is about making better use of a former public toilet and creating a safer and more welcoming environment in the West End.
“The council is proud of its considerable investment in public toilets for the benefit of residents and visitors – one of the largest active investments in public toilets of any local authority.
“As the provision of public toilets is a non-statutory service, any rental income will support our investment of £12.7 million on an extensive refurbishment of our eight West End public toilets. We are also spending more than £2m on upgrading Automated Public Conveniences and refreshing our neighbourhood toilets.
“The council provides a network of temporary toilets in the West End at weekends and during major events to address the increase in demand during busier times.
“Making sure Westminster’s streets are clean and safe is the council’s top priority. In addition to our toilet provision, our City Inspectors and street cleaning teams run a 24/7 service to deal with problems like street urination as quickly as possible.”
© The Standard Ltd