The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stockwood Park, Luton) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,600 feet near Stockwood Park, Luton, during a large public gathering on 12 September 2026.
These Regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace around Stockwood Park, Luton, to manage unmanned aircraft activity during the Party in the Park Festival.
The order prohibits the flight of all unmanned aircraft below 1,600 feet above mean sea level within a 0.9 nautical mile radius of a specified central coordinate.
These restrictions apply to all drone operators on 12 September 2026, unless they have obtained explicit permission from designated Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS commanders or advisors.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons at the Party in the Park Festival.
The document states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The legislation provides a mechanism for authorized flight via permission from Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS officials, allowing for managed oversight.
Arguments Against
Recreational and commercial drone operators may cite the restriction as an interference with planned aerial activities during the festival period.
Pilots must ensure they correctly convert Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) to British Summer Time (BST) to avoid accidental incursions, as the document notes a one-hour difference.
The specific radius and altitude limits may impose operational constraints on news gathering or private filming organizations not granted police permission.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stockwood Park, Luton) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 12th September 2026.
This section provides the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The rules take effect on 12 September 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section specifies that all times mentioned in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
This requires readers to adjust for British Summer Time, which is one hour ahead of UTC.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0700 hours and ending with 2259 hours on 12th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.9 of a nautical mile which is centred at 515159N 0002549W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance a permission issued by-
- (a) the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Bronze Commander, or
- (b) the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Tactics Advisor.
This section defines the geographical and vertical limits of the flight ban, creating a circular restricted zone with a 0.9 nautical mile radius around Stockwood Park.
It prohibits unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, from entering this zone between 07:00 and 22:59 UTC at altitudes lower than 1,600 feet above mean sea level.
Exceptions are granted only to operators who receive specific authorization from Bedfordshire Police counter-unmanned aircraft system (UAS) officials.
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