MORE gender neutral toilets would make Brighton and Hove a more inclusive city for trans people, a survey has found.

Creating more gender neutral toilets and changing rooms are among a raft of recommendations in a new Brighton and Hove City Council report focussing on the needs of the city’s trans community of more than 2,700 residents.

Plans for a safe place for trans victims of domestic violence and the development of a scheme promoting “trans friendly” businesses and organisations throughout the city have also been forwarded.

Councillors said the report highlighted more work was needed despite the city’s reputation as a “trans-friendly city”.

The authors of the report, which includes a survey of the city’s trans community, state that Brighton and Hove is perceived as “a trans-friendly and inclusive city” but trans people report that they still face abuse, discrimination and social isolation.

The city’s reputation as a “safe haven” for trans people escaping abuse elsewhere in the country also meant the community suffered from above average incidents of homelessness.

The report suggested that the city’s tourism team VisitBrighton should consider building on that reputation as a safe haven to market Brighton and Hove as a “trans inclusive destination”.

Respondents to the survey said the gender neutral facilities introduced during refurbishments of public facilities were “appreciated”.

The report recommends the council, NHS and universities should promote the introduction of gender neutral facilities including toilets and changing rooms in new and refurbished buildings.

Future developments such as the King Alfred Leisure Centre will be designed with the needs of trans people taken into account, the report said.

The introduction of the city’s first gender neutral toilet on Rottingdean seafront in February 2013 following a £140,000 refurbishment was met with accusations of “unnecessary bureaucracy and political correctness”.

Councillor Emma Daniel, Brighton and Hove City Council's neighbourhoods, communities and equalities committee chairwoman, said: “Although the trans-friendly nature of our city has been recognised there is still some way to go before all members of the trans community are able to go about their lives in the city in a way in which most of us take for granted.”

Dr Samuel Hall, chairman of local transgender support group Clare Project, described the report as a “major leap forward” highlighting the level of discrimination and prejudice in the city and practical recommendations for improvements.

Councillor Phelim MacCafferty, who chaired the Trans Equality Scrutiny Panel which recommended the needs assessment survey, said: “Despite the work of the council and other partners, the findings in the trans needs assessment underline huge issues facing the trans community.

"We need the work on trans equality to continue and deepen.”