The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026
Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet in Lytham, Lancashire, during early July 2026 for public safety during a large gathering.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026 prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified radius of Lytham, Lancashire. These restrictions apply from 1500 to 2259 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time daily between 1st July and 5th July 2026.
The regulations permit flights only if authorized by the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team, and they apply to all operators of unmanned aircraft within the designated coordinates.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that flight restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that restrictions are required for public safety and security at the request of Lancashire Police.
The document specifies that the measures are intended to manage risks associated with the Lytham Festival scheduled for July 2026.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that the regulations grant discretionary power to the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team to permit specific flights without defining the criteria for such permissions.
Operators of unmanned aircraft may argue that the five-day duration and specific altitude restrictions limit hobbyist or commercial activity in the specified area.
Civil liberties organizations could raise concerns regarding the necessity of total flight bans for public gatherings and whether the 0.5 nautical mile radius is proportional to the stated security risks.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 1st July 2026.
This section establishes the official title of the statutory instrument.
It sets the date the regulations legally take effect as 1st July 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This provision clarifies the time standard used for the flight restrictions.
It specifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the applicable reference, which the document notes is one hour behind British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 2259 hours on each of the 5 days beginning with 1st July 2026 and ending with 5th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at 534409N 0025727W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,100 feet within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of a specific coordinate in Lytham during designated evening hours.
It applies to a five-day period in July 2026.
The restriction is not absolute; it allows for exceptions if an operator obtains prior permission from the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team.
UAS refers to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly known as drones.
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Chapeltown, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Cancelled emergency flight restrictions in Chapeltown, South Yorkshire, effective immediately on 17 September 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft near Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock during the 2026 Labour Party Conference.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Waddington) Regulations 2026
Restricted flying in the vicinity of RAF Waddington on 26 September 2026 to ensure public safety during aerial displays.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Chapeltown, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in Chapeltown due to a local emergency.
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