VISITORS to Salisbury Cathedral can now spend a penny in paradise.

Little Paradise, the first permanent new build at Salisbury Cathedral since the 15th century opened at the weekend, providing new toilet facilities and storage space. It marks a significant milestone for the cathedral as it looks to deliver a long term programme of improved facilities for its congregation and visitors to the cathedral.

The building combines timber, glass and stone and is designed to blend perfectly with the historic environment around it, with minimal impact on the fabric.

It replaces temporary toilets, enhancing the appearance of the south side of the building and simultaneously returning the south cloister, which had become an overflow storage area to a reflective space.

The project has been made possible through donations, legacies and pledges from the Friends of Salisbury Cathedral and other generous supporters.

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd June Osborne, said “This new building between the cathedral and the chapter house has long been an ambition and I’m truly delighted that it has finally come to fruition enabling us to provide a better welcome to congregation and visitors alike.”

The facility was created by R Durtnell & Sons Limited of Farnborough.

This new build, together with the recently completed restoration work on the north cloister, continues the Cathedral’s preparations for Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary in 2015 when it expects to welcome many thousands of people to see the finest of the four surviving 1215 exemplars.