Legislation Published February 2026
UK legislation and statutory instruments introduced in February 2026.
Summary
- 24th Feb 26 The Secretary of State appointed the Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance as trustee, authorized the sale of the former St Bede's Junior School assets, and consolidated the endowment under uniform statutory trusts for use by relevant Church of England schools in the Diocese. View
- 24th Feb 26 The Regulations imposed temporary restrictions on flying below 8,000 feet near RAF Coningsby on March 16, 2026, for Red Arrows display rehearsals. View
- 24th Feb 26 The Regulations imposed restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying below 1,000 feet near Whitfield, Kent (Area EGR1U100) for security reasons and revoked the 2025 flying restriction regulations. View
- 23rd Feb 26 The Order amended Section 105(3) of the Utilities Act 2000 to insert exemptions allowing information disclosure for facilitating functions under the Energy Prices Act 2022 and complying with directions issued under that Act. View
- 23rd Feb 26 The Treasury prescribed the non-domestic rating multipliers for England for financial years starting on or after 1st April 2026, defined statutory thresholds for RHL hereditaments, and excluded the 2024 Regulations from future application dates. View
- 19th Feb 26 The Secretary of State imposed a temporary prohibition on pre-emptive actions by DMGT and associated entities concerning the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings to preserve the status quo pending a public interest review. View
- 19th Feb 26 The Order conferred powers on Network Rail to compulsorily acquire land and rights for Midland Mainline improvements, detailing procedures for possession, compensation, and the modification of relevant 1965 and 1981 acquisition Acts. View
- 18th Feb 26 The regulations mandated that pedicab operators in Greater London must obtain a three-year licence from TfL, established strict criteria relating to fitness, conduct, and immigration status for operators and associated persons, imposed detailed record-keeping and communication duties, and granted TfL powers to enforce these rules. View
- 18th Feb 26 * The regulations established a mandatory licensing regime administered by Transport for London (TfL) for all pedicab vehicles operating in Greater London, effective from March 9, 2026 (with one exception). View
- 18th Feb 26 Transport for London made and enacted comprehensive regulations governing the licensing, conduct, fitness, background checks, and enforcement procedures for all pedicab drivers operating in Greater London. View
- 18th Feb 26 OFCOM exempted wireless telegraphy apparatus used for direct-to-device satellite communications from licensing under specific technical and power limitations in February 2026. View
- 17th Feb 26 A Statutory Instrument was made to correct the commencement date in the principal 2026 Compulsory Purchase Forms Regulations from February 2025 to the intended February 2026. View
- 17th Feb 26 The Order revoked the previous Statutory Instrument (S.I. 2026/96) that had postponed local government elections in 30 English councils from May 2026 to May 2027, meaning those elections proceed as originally scheduled. View
- 17th Feb 26 The Regulations established immediate, temporary restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying below 1000 feet over a 0.5 nautical mile radius centered on Leicester due to an emergency. View
- 17th Feb 26 The Order set the annual increase rate for specific parts of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions at 3 per cent, commencing on April 6, 2026. View
- 17th Feb 26 A Statutory Instrument formally corrected specific typographical and administrative errors within The Stonestreet Green Solar Order 2025 following a statutory request. View
The Diocese of Guildford (Educational Endowments) (St Bede’s Church of England Junior School) Order 2026
This 2026 Order establishes the Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance as the new trustee for the endowment previously associated with St Bede's Church of England Junior School in Surrey after its premises ceased use for that purpose, authorizing the immediate transfer of assets and the subsequent consolidation of this endowment with the Diocese of Guildford Consolidated Educational Endowments Fund, where the capital and income will be managed under uniform statutory trusts for the benefit of current Church of England schools within the Diocese.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026 impose a temporary prohibition on aircraft flying below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within a 6 nautical mile radius centred at 530534N 0001000W, specifically between 1230 and 1330 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time on March 16, 2026.
This measure is enacted by the Secretary of State for Transport in the public interest to ensure safety during flying display rehearsals conducted by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, while permitting exceptions for aircraft authorized by designated Air Traffic Control units.
These 2026 Regulations impose a restriction on the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,000 feet above mean sea level within a specified area around Whitfield, Kent, designated as Restricted Area EGR1U100, based on security interests identified by the Secretary of State at the request of the Home Office; the Regulations come into force on 11th June 2026, revoke previous 2025 restrictions, and provide exemptions for emergency services and operations permitted by Border Force.
The Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, the Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2026, amends Section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000, which generally restricts the disclosure of certain information.
The Order inserts new provisions creating specific exemptions from this restriction to facilitate the performance of functions under sections 13 and 19 of the Energy Prices Act 2022, and to allow compliance with directions issued under section 22 of that same Act, thereby enabling smoother execution of specific energy policy measures.
The Local Government Finance Act 1988 (Prescription of Non-Domestic Rating Multipliers) (England) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by the Treasury and effective from 1st April 2026, prescribe the specific non-domestic rating multipliers used to calculate business rates in England for occupied, unoccupied, and centrally rated hereditaments, establishing thresholds based on rateable value (£51,000 and £500,000) to determine whether a small business RHL, standard RHL, high-value, or standard multiplier applies, particularly for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, while also amending the 2024 Regulations to limit their future applicability.
The Public Interest Merger Reference (Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited) (Pre-emptive Action) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State under the Enterprise Act 2002, prevents the parties involved in the proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited by Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT) from taking 'pre-emptive action' while a public interest intervention notice remains in force; the Order mandates that the Telegraph Media Group Holdings business must be carried on separately, maintaining its operational status, editorial independence, key staff, and market position until the review period concludes.
The Network Rail (Kettering to Wigston South Junction and Napsbury Lane) (Land Acquisition) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, The Network Rail (Kettering to Wigston South Junction and Napsbury Lane) (Land Acquisition) Order 2026, grants Network Rail Infrastructure Limited the powers to compulsorily acquire land, or new rights over land, necessary for the electrification and improvement works on the Midland Mainline railway between Kettering and Wigston South Junction, as well as access rights at Napsbury Lane; the Order details modifications to existing legislation concerning compulsory purchase, temporary possession for construction and maintenance, compensation assessment procedures, and the extinguishment of certain private rights of way, setting a five-year limit for exercising these acquisition powers.
The Pedicab Operators (London) Regulations 2026
These Regulations, made by Transport for London (TfL) under the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024, establish the comprehensive legal framework for licensing, regulating, and enforcing standards for operators of pedicabs operating within Greater London, covering requirements for applications, duration, conditions, fitness and propriety criteria including immigration checks, detailed record-keeping obligations for bookings, drivers, and vehicles, grounds for license variation or revocation, and an appeal process.