EHRC single-sex spaces guidance being adapted under ‘constructive’ new chair

There has been what is viewed as a change in approach from the EHRC since its new chair, Mary-Ann Stephenson, took over late last year. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PA

Guidance on how to implement the landmark supreme court ruling on gender is being adapted to lessen its impact on businesses and to ensure it tries to balance single-sex spaces with the lives of transgender people, the Guardian has been told.

Lawyers from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are understood to be in discussions with government lawyers over the practicalities of guiding businesses and other institutions about last year’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex only.