Legislation Published August 2026
47 statutory instruments were made in August 2026, with the majority relating to aviation safety and temporary airspace restrictions. Significant legislative changes included the activation of information-sharing powers between probation services and victims, and the introduction of mandatory allergy safety policies for schools in England. Additionally, new requirements were established for released prisoners regarding passport disclosure and standard licence conditions.
Most significant this month: The Victims and Courts Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026
Summary
- 28th Aug 26 Established a temporary restricted flight zone for unmanned aircraft in Middlesborough due to an emergency. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 28th Aug 26 Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Middlesbrough area with immediate effect on 24 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 28th Aug 26 Established an emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft over Middlesborough effective 22 August 2026. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 28th Aug 26 Updated the registered postcode for one school and revoked the religious character designation for eight closed independent schools. View Education Local Government
- 28th Aug 26 Restricted the use of drones and other unmanned aircraft near Murrayfield Stadium during a public event on 28 August 2026. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 27th Aug 26 Restricted the 1 September 2026 commencement of pupil referral unit provisions to England only. View Devolution Education Local Government
- 27th Aug 26 Activated legal provisions requiring enhanced background checks for supervised staff working with children starting September 2026. View Education Health and Social Care Justice Labour
- 26th Aug 26 Designated Barnet Hill Academy as a school with an Islamic religious character effective 27 August 2026. View Education Local Government
- 26th Aug 26 Restricted flight operations in the vicinity of Melcombe Bingham for national defence purposes on 26 August 2026. View Defence Transport
- 25th Aug 26 Restricted the use of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Daresbury, Cheshire, during the 2026 Creamfields Music Festival. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 25th Aug 26 Restricted flight operations within a 3-nautical-mile radius of Little Gransden Aerodrome on 30 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 20th Aug 26 Activated the legal requirement for schools in England to maintain and publish allergy safety policies starting 1 September 2026. View Education Health and Social Care Local Government
- 18th Aug 26 Restricted flight operations below 3,000 feet in the Trawsfynydd area for a specific nine-hour period on 18 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 18th Aug 26 Established an emergency no-fly zone for drones below 1,300 feet in Billing, Northampton, effective August 18, 2026. View Justice Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Established an emergency restricted airspace zone for unmanned aircraft near Dowlais, South Wales, effective 15 August 2026. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Established an immediate no-fly zone for drones below 1,500 feet in a 0.54 nautical mile radius around Llantrisant due to an emergency. View Infrastructure Justice Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Established a temporary no-fly zone for drones below 2,900 feet in the Blaenavon area to facilitate emergency response operations. View Justice Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Established an immediate no-fly zone for drones within a specified radius of Ferndale to support emergency operations. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet within a 2.7 nautical mile radius of Dowlais, South Wales, to facilitate emergency response. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft flight below 4,000 feet within a 12.4 nautical mile radius of Deri, South Wales, to facilitate emergency services. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 17th Aug 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,900 feet within 4.3 nautical miles of Pontypridd to facilitate emergency response operations. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Established an emergency restricted airspace below 3,000 feet within 1.5 nautical miles of Lewes and revoked the previous emergency regulations for the area. View Justice Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Llanwonno area of Wales with immediate effect. View Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Established an immediate emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft over Pantside, Wales. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Prohibited unauthorized flight below 1,500 feet in a specific area of Stourbridge due to an emergency. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Established an immediate emergency no-fly zone below 3,000 feet within 1.5 nautical miles of Lewes, East Sussex. View Justice Transport
- 14th Aug 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet near Swinderby, Lincolnshire, for the duration of the 2026 Lost Village Festival. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 12th Aug 26 Activated legal powers on 13 August 2026 allowing probation services to disclose offender information to victims deemed at risk of harm. View Benefits and Welfare Health and Social Care Justice
- 12th Aug 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,200 feet in the Notting Hill area during the 2026 Carnival period. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 11th Aug 26 Prohibited aircraft flight below 2,500 feet within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of Ringwood, Hampshire, due to an emergency. View Justice Transport
- 11th Aug 26 Established a temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on 12 August 2026 for public safety purposes. View Justice Local Government Transport
- 10th Aug 26 Revised the standard licence conditions for released prisoners and introduced new requirements for disclosing passport information. View Civil Liberties Justice
- 10th Aug 26 Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Hooton Roberts area of South Yorkshire with immediate effect. View Justice Transport
- 10th Aug 26 Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Wychnor area with immediate effect on 10 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 10th Aug 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft flights below 800 feet in a specific South Yorkshire emergency zone. View Justice Transport
- 7th Aug 26 Removed emergency flight restrictions in the Chelmsford area with immediate effect on 7 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 7th Aug 26 Established an emergency no-fly zone below 2,300 feet around Wychnor starting 6 August 2026. View Justice Transport
- 7th Aug 26 Restricted flying in the vicinity of Sherburn-in-Elmet Aerodrome during specific windows on 22nd and 23rd August 2026 to facilitate a Royal Aero Club Air Race. View Culture and Sport Transport
- 7th Aug 26 Restricted flight operations within a 4-nautical-mile radius of RAF Syerston on 20 August 2026 for public safety during air displays. View Defence Justice Transport
- 7th Aug 26 Restricted the use of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the Reading Festival between 26 and 31 August 2026. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 5th Aug 26 Established a temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft near Edinburgh Castle on 6 August 2026. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 5th Aug 26 Established a temporary restricted flight zone near Eastbourne for public safety during the 2026 International Airshow. View Justice Transport
- 5th Aug 26 Restricted the flying of unmanned aircraft near Clacton-on-Sea for the duration of the 2026 Clacton Airshow. View Culture and Sport Justice Transport
- 5th Aug 26 Established the Greater Cambridge Development Corporation and designated its operational urban development area effective 23 July 2026. View Housing Infrastructure Local Government
- 3rd Aug 26 Corrected a terminological error in police vetting regulations by replacing 'police candidate' with 'police officer'. View Justice Labour
- 3rd Aug 26 Revoked the emergency flight restrictions over Dovestones Reservoir in Manchester with immediate effect. View Transport
- 3rd Aug 26 Established an emergency restricted airspace zone for unmanned aircraft near Llanwonno, Wales, effective 3 August 2026. View Justice Local Government Transport
Established a temporary no-fly zone for drones below 2,900 feet in the Blaenavon area to facilitate emergency response operations.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 2,900 feet above mean sea level within a specified 2.7 nautical mile radius of Blaenavon, South Wales.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued these restrictions in response to an emergency, though the specific nature of the emergency is not detailed in the text.
The prohibition applies to all unmanned aircraft, except those operating under the direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ferndale, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an immediate no-fly zone for drones within a specified radius of Ferndale to support emergency operations.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 2,900 feet within a 2.7 nautical mile radius of Ferndale, South Wales.
The Secretary of State issued these orders under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an unspecified emergency in the area.
The restriction applies to all drone operators, except those flying under the specific direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dowlais, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet within a 2.7 nautical mile radius of Dowlais, South Wales, to facilitate emergency response.
These Regulations establish a restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in the Dowlais area of South Wales following an emergency.
The order prohibits any unmanned aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 2.7 nautical mile radius of a specified coordinate, unless directed otherwise by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. These rules apply to all civilian drone operators and took effect immediately upon signing at 11:55 p.m. on 14 August 2026.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Deri, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft flight below 4,000 feet within a 12.4 nautical mile radius of Deri, South Wales, to facilitate emergency services.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft at altitudes below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within a specified radius of Deri, South Wales.
This restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft, except those operating under the specific direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The measures are issued under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an active emergency situation in the region.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Pontypridd, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,900 feet within 4.3 nautical miles of Pontypridd to facilitate emergency response operations.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 2,900 feet above mean sea level within a specified radius of Pontypridd, South Wales.
The Secretary of State issued these restrictions under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an active emergency in the area.
The flight ban applies to all drone operators, except those acting under the specific direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and remains in effect until the emergency is deemed to have passed.
Established an emergency restricted airspace below 3,000 feet within 1.5 nautical miles of Lewes and revoked the previous emergency regulations for the area.
These Regulations establish a temporary no-fly zone in the vicinity of Lewes, East Sussex, prohibiting aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of the specified coordinates.
The restrictions apply to all aircraft except those operating under the direction of the British Transport Police. The Secretary of State issued this order under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an ongoing emergency in the area.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Llanwonno, Wales) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Llanwonno area of Wales with immediate effect.
These Regulations revoke the emergency flight restrictions previously imposed in the Llanwonno area of Wales.
By cancelling the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Llanwonno, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026, this instrument removes prohibitions on unauthorized aircraft entering the specified airspace.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued this order at 3:37 p.m. on 14 August 2026, determining that the public interest no longer requires these protections as the emergency has concluded.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Pantside, Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an immediate emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft over Pantside, Wales.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 2,100 feet above mean sea level within a specific 0.54 nautical mile radius of Pantside, Wales.
The restrictions apply to all unmanned aircraft operators, with the exception of those flying under the specific direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The Secretary of State issued this mandate under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an unspecified emergency, and the rules remain in effect until the instrument is revoked.