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
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stourbridge, West Midlands) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unauthorized flight below 1,500 feet in a specific area of Stourbridge due to an emergency.
These Regulations establish a temporary no-fly zone in Stourbridge, West Midlands, prohibiting all aircraft from flying below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of a specified central point.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued this order in response to an ongoing emergency, granting exclusive flight authority within the zone to aircraft directed by the West Midlands Police Drone Team.
These rules apply to all civilian and commercial pilots and drone operators, taking effect immediately upon signing.
Established an immediate emergency no-fly zone below 3,000 feet within 1.5 nautical miles of Lewes, East Sussex.
These Regulations prohibit all aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of a specific location in Lewes, East Sussex.
This restriction applies immediately to all civilian and commercial pilots, though it grants East Sussex Police the authority to permit specific flights via official directions.
The Secretary of State issued this order under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an unspecified emergency deemed to affect the public interest.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Swinderby, Lincolnshire) Regulations 2026
Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet near Swinderby, Lincolnshire, for the duration of the 2026 Lost Village Festival.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet above mean sea level in a specific area near Swinderby, Lincolnshire, between 27 August and 31 August 2026.
The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft, with specific exceptions for those operated by police air support units or those with permission from the Lost Village Festival organizers.
The measure is intended to manage public safety and security during the Lost Village Festival.
The Victims and Courts Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026
Activated legal powers on 13 August 2026 allowing probation services to disclose offender information to victims deemed at risk of harm.
These Regulations bring specific provisions of the Victims and Courts Act 2026 into force on 13 August 2026, primarily concerning the disclosure of information to victims of crime. They empower probation service providers to share information with victims who may be at risk of physical or psychological harm, even if the standard criteria for the statutory Victim Contact Scheme are not fully met.
The regulations also apply to responsible clinicians and hospital managers in cases involving offenders under the Mental Health Act 1983, ensuring they respond to information requests related to victim safety.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Notting Hill) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,200 feet in the Notting Hill area during the 2026 Carnival period.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft at altitudes below 1,200 feet within a specific area of Notting Hill, London, during the 2026 Notting Hill Carnival.
The restriction applies to all drone operators from 0700 hours on 30 August 2026 until 0100 hours on 1 September 2026, unless they have obtained specific permission from the Metropolitan Police Service Air Support Unit.
The measure aims to ensure public safety by managing airspace over large crowds.
Prohibited aircraft flight below 2,500 feet within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of Ringwood, Hampshire, due to an emergency.
These Regulations establish a restricted airspace zone around Ringwood, Hampshire, prohibiting aircraft from flying below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of a specified central coordinate.
The order applies to all aircraft, with an exception for those operating under directions from the Hampshire and IOW Police. The Secretary of State for Transport issued these rules as an emergency measure to address a public interest concern arising from a local emergency.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Buckfastleigh, Devon) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on 12 August 2026 for public safety purposes.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a specific 0.5 nautical mile radius around Buckfastleigh, Devon.
The restriction applies on 12 August 2026 between 0600 and 1600 Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The order applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, except those granted specific permission by the Devon and Cornwall Police Counter-UAS Team.
The Criminal Justice (Sentencing) (Licence Conditions) (Amendment and Revocation) Order 2026
Revised the standard licence conditions for released prisoners and introduced new requirements for disclosing passport information.
This Order updates the standard conditions applied to offenders released from prison on determinate sentences in England and Wales.
It mandates that offenders disclose passport details, obtain permission before applying for new travel documents, and keep supervising officers informed of all contact details and employment changes.
The Order applies to all offenders subject to supervision under Chapter 6 of Part 12 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and defines the role of the supervising officer responsible for managing these individuals.