Legislation Published May 2026

Legislation Tracker is your source for clear, concise explanations of Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments introduced in the United Kingdom.

We break down the technical legal jargon of each piece of legislation, explaining in plain language what it means and its potential impact.

Summary

  • 15th May 26 The regulations imposed temporary flight restrictions over Edinburgh airspace for specific periods between June 27th and July 3rd, 2026, to ensure public safety during the State Opening of the Scottish Parliament and Royal Week. View
  • 15th May 26 The Regulations imposed temporary flight restrictions on unmanned aircraft around Wembley Stadium for a specified period on May 16th, 2026, to ensure public safety during the FA Cup Final. View
  • 15th May 26 The Regulations amended the 2023 rules governing the Responsible Actors Scheme by correcting language, omitting a prohibition notice, and modifying exceptions related to building control prohibitions for various building works and property transfers. View
  • 15th May 26 The Regulations amended existing 2017 conservation law to establish specific compensatory measure requirements and administrative processes for certain UK offshore wind projects approved despite negative site assessments. View
  • 14th May 26 The regulations revoked prior statutory instruments granting immunities and privileges to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, effective March 31, 2027. View
  • 14th May 26 The Order specified independent remuneration panels as relevant for determining allowances paid to commissioners in Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities, coming into force on 4th June 2026. View
  • 14th May 26 The regulations imposed flight limitations on unmanned aircraft below 1,350 feet around the Lippitt's Hill NPAS base, designated as EGR1U082, and revoked the preceding 2025 regulations. View
  • 14th May 26 * The regulations imposed new flight height and area restrictions on unmanned aircraft near the Almondsbury National Police Air Service base and simultaneously revoked the 2025 restriction regulations. View
  • 14th May 26 The Regulations established a new restricted airspace zone (EGR2U063) below 1,550 feet around the Husbands Bosworth National Police Air Service base, prohibiting unauthorized unmanned aircraft flights and revoking the previous 2025 restrictions. View
  • 14th May 26 The Regulations imposed restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,700 feet around Gatcombe Park, designating airspace EGR1U083, effective May 14, 2026. View
  • 14th May 26 The regulations imposed a height restriction on unmanned aircraft operations near the Carr Gate National Police Air Service base and simultaneously revoked the preceding 2025 restriction order. View
  • 14th May 26 The Regulations brought Section 15 of the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 into force immediately, and brought Section 16 into force immediately for regulation-making purposes, setting its general commencement for September 1, 2026. View
  • 13th May 26 The Act established a statutory basis for granting compensation and preferential treatment to qualifying veterans of the UK armed forces. View
  • 11th May 26 The Regulations imposed restrictions on low-level flying around RAF Cosford airspace for specific periods between June 12th and June 14th, 2026, to protect public safety during flying displays. View
  • 8th May 26 The Regulations amended the 2014 rules to subject temporary treatment of injury or disease at sporting and cultural events to CQC regulation, while phasing the commencement from September 2026 to December 2027. View
  • 7th May 26 A correction notice was issued to amend typographical errors within the original Statutory Instrument by consistently changing 'Carer's Additional Person Payment' to 'Carer Additional Person Payment'. View
  • 7th May 26 Corrected a typographical error in the footnote reference for a Statutory Instrument cited in the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and Tenancies (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2026. View
  • 6th May 26 The Regulations detailed how statutory workplace pension contributions deducted by an employer affect the calculation of an applicable individual's pay for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage. View
  • 6th May 26 The Regulations amended the 2024 Biodiversity Gain Site Register Regulations by incorporating provisions related to development consent granted under the Planning Act 2008 and defining key site and development terms. View
  • 5th May 26 A URL link within the Explanatory Note of The Planning Data (England) Regulations 2026 was corrected to point to the accurate guidance on publishing plan data. View
  • 5th May 26 A new Article 465A was inserted into the retained Capital Requirements Regulation (EU No 575/2013) to mandate a transitional period, running from January 1st to December 31st, 2027, exempting credit institutions and certain investment firms from applying specific new PRA market risk model rules. View
  • 5th May 26 The Secretary of State revoked the emergency flying restrictions previously imposed over the Southway, Plymouth area via a prior statutory instrument. View
  • 5th May 26 The Secretary of State imposed immediate, temporary flying restrictions below 3,500 feet over a specified one-mile radius near Bristol due to a public interest emergency, effective May 3rd, 2026. View
  • 1st May 26 The regulations established the definitive contractual framework for primary medical services provision under the NHS in England. View
  • 1st May 26 Amended the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Fees Order 2013 to introduce new fees for proceedings under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and updated definitions and fee structures. View
  • 1st May 26 Specific parts of the Football Governance Act 2025, covering owner suitability, club duties, and IFR investigatory powers, were brought into force on May 5, 2026. View
  • 1st May 26 The Secretary of State made regulations imposing temporary flight restrictions below 3,500 feet around Headcorn Aerodrome for flying displays scheduled from June 26th to June 28th, 2026. View

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026 establish temporary flight restrictions over a specified two-nautical-mile radius centered near Edinburgh between June 27th and July 3rd, 2026, due to the State Opening of the Scottish Parliament and Royal Week, setting a minimum flight altitude of 4,500 feet above mean sea level, with exemptions for authorized emergency, police, and airport-directed operations.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Wembley Stadium, London) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, enacted by the Secretary of State under the powers of the Air Navigation Order 2016, temporarily restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of Wembley Stadium, London, specifically between 0800 and 2100 Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) on May 16th, 2026, due to the large public gathering expected for the FA Cup Final; exceptions are granted only with written permission from the Metropolitan Police Service FA Cup Final Silver Commander to ensure public safety and security.

The Building Safety (Responsible Actors Scheme and Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 15th May 26

These 2026 Regulations amend the 2023 Building Safety (Responsible Actors Scheme and Prohibitions) Regulations to correct defects, clarify criteria for membership invitations into the Responsible Actors Scheme, remove an obsolete prohibition notice requirement, and adjust the scope of building control prohibitions and their exceptions concerning emergency work, work on occupied buildings, and property purchasers.

The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, made under the Energy Act 2023, amend the 2017 Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations to introduce a specific framework for securing compensatory measures related to 'relevant offshore wind plans or projects' approved despite negative environmental impact assessments.

The amendments effectively disapply existing general duties regarding site coherence and introduce a new mechanism requiring compensatory measures to benefit the UK MPA network proportionately, selected according to a published compensation hierarchy, with specific approval and review responsibilities assigned to the Secretary of State, Welsh Ministers, and Scottish Ministers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The European Communities (Immunities and Privileges of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission) (Revocation) Regulations 2026

These Regulations formally revoke older statutory instruments from 1985, 1999, and 2001 that conferred specific immunities and privileges upon the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission under previous European Communities law, exercising powers granted by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, with the revocation taking effect on March 31, 2027, to allow time for successor legislation to be enacted to maintain continuity.

The Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) (Amendment) Order 2026

Published: Thu 14th May 26

This Statutory Instrument, the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) (Amendment) Order 2026, amends the 2017 Order to formally designate independent remuneration panels established by Combined Authorities (CAs) and Combined County Authorities (CCAs) as 'relevant remuneration panels' under Schedule 5BA of the 2009 Act and Schedule 2A of the 2023 Act concerning the payment of allowances to appointed commissioners.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt’s Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026 establish a legally mandated restriction on the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,350 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centred at 513916N 0000103E to ensure the security and public safety related to the National Police Air Service base located there, while permitting operations authorized by or on behalf of the National Police Air Service.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 14th May 26

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Almondsbury) (Restricted Area EGR1U081) Regulations 2026 establish a mandatory flight restriction for unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centered on specific coordinates near Almondsbury due to security and public safety concerns related to the National Police Air Service base located there; these regulations revoke the previous 2025 equivalent restrictions and exempt aircraft operated by or on behalf of the NPAS or flying under specific NPAS permission, coming into force on May 14th, 2026.