SOHO has one of the lowest numbers of public toilets per square mile in the country, according to a neighbourhood group launching an investigation this week.

The Soho Neighbour­hood Forum (SNF) has commissioned a consultancy firm to look at the models, location and costs of new public toilets.

The group wants to produce a plan that the city council and investors can get behind.

The study will be “the most extensive ever undertaken in the area” and a “game-changer”, said chairwoman Lucy Haine. The SNF says its research has found that while Soho has the highest concentration of licensed hospitality in the country it also has “one of the lowest” numbers of public toilets per square mile in the country.

Soho’s Neighbourhood Plan – a list of objectives agreed by the SNF – states that major developments should be publicly accessible facilities but it “remains largely ignored and unenforced”.

This has led to widespread street urination (and worse), degrading the quality of life of those who work and reside in the area and damaging its reputation as a clean and pleasant place to live, work, and visit, and creating a potential public health hazard.

The SNF, which has jurisdiction over money secured from developers through the planning system, commissioned a similar study into rubbish collections last year.

West End ward councillor and lead member for Soho, Patrick Lilley, said: “The council is discussing major investment in the refurbishment of several landmark public conveniences in Westminster, including Great Marlborough / Carnaby Street.

“Every month, Soho provides two dozen pop-up loos from Thursday to Sunday, to mitigate the effects of the popular night-time economy and lack of facilities across Soho.

“Westminster City Council has also invested in splash-back ‘pee’ paint on several hotspots to discourage street fouling.”

The study is expected to come out in January.