The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Rotherham, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Restricted unmanned aircraft flights below 1,500 feet in a specified area of Rotherham due to an emergency.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Rotherham, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 establishes a restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in Rotherham.
It prohibits the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within a 0.54 nautical mile radius of a specified coordinate in South Yorkshire. This restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, with the exception of those flying according to directions provided by the South Yorkshire Police. The Secretary of State for Transport issued this order under the authority of the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an unspecified emergency situation.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that a reason affecting the public interest makes it necessary to restrict flying due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The document states that the restrictions are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
The legislation provides an exception for aircraft operating under the direction of South Yorkshire Police, allowing for continued official aerial activity if required for the emergency response.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators might note that the document does not specify the nature of the emergency, which may lead to uncertainty regarding the necessity or proportionate duration of the restrictions.
Civil liberties groups or recreational drone users could argue that the immediate commencement of the regulations provides no prior notice to operators already in the vicinity.
The geographical scope is defined by coordinates and a radius, which might pose compliance challenges for operators without precise GPS-linked altitude and location monitoring equipment.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Rotherham, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official title of the regulations.
It mandates that the legal requirements take effect immediately upon the stated time of signing on July 13, 2026.
Restricted airspace
No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
These Regulations do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by South Yorkshire Police.
Section 2 prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft, such as drones, at altitudes lower than 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the designated zone.
The boundaries are defined as a circle with a 0.54 nautical mile radius centered on the coordinates 53°26'32"N and 001°23'36"W.
Section 3 creates a specific exemption for any unmanned aircraft that is being operated following the instructions of the South Yorkshire Police. This allows law enforcement to manage or utilize drone activity within the restricted zone during the emergency.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Rotherham, South Yorkshire | 0.54 nautical mile | 532632N 0012336W |
The Schedule provides the precise technical data required to identify the restricted zone.
It specifies a radius of 0.54 nautical miles around a central point in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, defined by latitude and longitude coordinates.
Related
The Enterprise Act 2002 (Specification of Additional Section 58 Consideration) Order 2026
Added the continuity of telecommunications supply as a public interest ground for government intervention in UK business mergers.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of Yorkshire Wildlife Park due to an emergency.
Read MoreThe Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Amended social security regulations to exclude Church of England abuse redress payments from income and capital assessments for means-tested benefits.
Read MoreThe Armed Forces (Service Complaints Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Updated the procedural rules and terminology for military service complaints and restricted certain appeal-related decisions from the grievance process.
Read More