Legislation Published July 2026

87 statutory instruments were made in July 2026, with aviation safety and environmental regulation forming the largest categories of new legislation. Significant changes include the Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026, which introduces a mandatory electronic system for monitoring controlled waste and new financial penalties for non-compliance. The Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) Regulations 2026 increases the period for making workplace claims from three to six months. Additionally, the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 sets a 6% interest rate cap on Plan 2 and Plan 3 student loans for the upcoming academic year.

Most significant this month: The Employment Tribunal (Extension of Time Limits) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026

Summary

  • 14th Jul 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,100 feet within a specific area of Cardiff on 16 July 2026. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established an emergency restricted flight zone below 3,000 feet around Dovestones Reservoir. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Revoked the emergency flight restrictions at Dovestones Reservoir, Manchester, with immediate effect. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established the formulas for calculating UK CBAM rates and defined the verification procedures for importers to claim relief for carbon prices paid abroad. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established a temporary restricted flight zone below 3,000 feet around Dovestones Reservoir due to a local emergency. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established a framework for HMRC to use electronic communications by default for specified tax matters and mandated the provision of digital contact details by service users. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Set the commencement dates and transitional registration rules for the mandatory HMRC registration of tax advisers. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Designated the Northern Ireland Events Company and the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery as public authorities subject to equality duties. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established mandatory notification procedures and data requirements for venues and events covered by the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Established administrative procedures, registration requirements, and record-keeping standards for the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism starting January 2027. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Restricted flight activities below 5,600 feet near Saltby for an aerobatic competition in mid-2026. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Restricted unmanned aircraft flights below 1,500 feet in a specified area of Rotherham due to an emergency. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Increased the annual immigration health surcharge rates for visa applicants and their dependents. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Empowered environmental regulators in England to impose civil penalties and administrative sanctions as alternatives to criminal prosecution for environmental offenses. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in specified Bedford airspace during July 18–19, 2026, to ensure public safety during a large event. View
  • 14th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Charlbury during the 2026 Wilderness Festival for public safety and security. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Adjusted the licensing hour extensions for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to account for match delays and postponements. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Reconstituted the Ramsey Internal Drainage Board by reducing its elected membership from nine to five. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Updated various childcare regulations to ban dangerous dog breeds from premises, broadened harm notification requirements, and adopted the July 2026 EYFS statutory frameworks. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Established the administrative requirements and removal procedures for the National Crime Agency's barred and advisory lists. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Amended biodiversity gain hierarchies for non-major developments and introduced new exemptions for small-scale and temporary projects while revoking the self-build exemption. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Determined that the regulatory frameworks for central counterparties in several overseas jurisdictions are equivalent to United Kingdom standards to facilitate cross-border clearing services. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Established the procedures for maintaining, publishing, and removing names from the Ministry of Defence Police barred and advisory lists. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Established the administrative framework and transparency requirements for the British Transport Police Authority to maintain records of dismissed or investigated personnel. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft flights below 1,600 feet near Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, during a three-day period in July 2026. View
  • 13th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet at Crystal Palace Park during specified dates in 2026 for public safety. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Established emergency restricted airspace over Haytor, Devon, prohibiting flight below 3,500 feet without police authorization. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Revoked the emergency flight restrictions in the Swansea area with immediate effect on July 10, 2026. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,300 feet within a specific radius in Swansea due to an emergency. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Designated Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, and Oracle as critical third parties to the UK financial system. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Established temporary restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft near Lytham St Annes to ensure public safety during a major sporting event. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Established temporary restricted airspace near Old Buckenham Aerodrome for the duration of the 2026 Airshow. View
  • 10th Jul 26 Activated specific sections of the Sentencing Act 2026 concerning community requirements, license conditions, domestic abuse findings, and unpaid work credits. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Brought into force revised statutory guidance regarding the detention of vulnerable persons under the Immigration Act 2014. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Amended the 2010 Chambers Order to allocate jurisdiction over certain business tenancy and telecommunications infrastructure disputes to the Property and Lands Chambers. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft near Murrayfield Stadium during specific windows in July 2026 to ensure public safety. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Updated the statutory reference date for calculating the cumulative value of local authority contract and land disposals from 2006 to 2025. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Extended the time limit for bringing employment contract claims in England and Wales from three to six months. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Extended the time limit for presenting various employment tribunal complaints from three months to six months, effective for incidents occurring on or after 1 October 2026. View
  • 9th Jul 26 Increased the hourly fee rates for specialist and non-specialist officers involved in the environmental regulation of offshore oil and gas activities. View
  • 8th Jul 26 Amended the Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 to increase capital expenditure thresholds for property and remove computer equipment from the Capital Goods Scheme. View
  • 8th Jul 26 Activated legal timeframes for the First-tier Tribunal to determine specific immigration and deportation appeals within 24 weeks. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Authorized the Environment Agency and Natural England to issue civil penalties and enforcement notices for environmental regulatory breaches in England. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Amended the 2019 Russia sanctions regulations to clarify prohibitions on financial institutions processing payments for or benefiting designated persons. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Exempted two specific commissions from statutory equality and good relations duties in Northern Ireland. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft near Builth Wells, Powys, between 20 July and 23 July 2026. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Prohibited unauthorized flight below 4,000 feet within a 3 nautical mile radius of RAF Odiham on 31 July 2026 during scheduled aerial displays. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft near Lowther, Cumbria, during a public festival in late July and early August 2026. View
  • 7th Jul 26 Established the legal definitions and minimum requirements for live and alternative broadcasting coverage of nationally significant sporting events. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Transferred the Northern School of Art from the further education sector to the higher education sector by reconstituting it as a higher education corporation. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Amended the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 to introduce new income disregards for working-age claimants in temporary or specified accommodation. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Established the mandatory information and procedural requirements for trade union workplace access requests and employer response notices starting October 2026. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Amended the 2013 Regulations to permit non-first-class postal service and revised the deemed delivery dates for documents served by charging authorities. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Amended driving licence regulations to extend the validity of Ukrainian driving permits for residents in Great Britain under specific immigration schemes. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Amended ecodesign rules to recognize newer EU sustainability frameworks and corrected errors in the 2026 household tumble dryer regulations. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Capped student loan interest rates for Plan 2 and Plan 3 loans at 6% for the 2026/27 academic year in England and Wales. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Specified three alternative names for previously proscribed organisations to ensure they are subject to the same legal restrictions as the names listed in the Terrorism Act 2000. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Bute Park, Cardiff, on 4 July 2026 for public safety during a large gathering. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Activated the remaining provisions of Part 4 of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 relating to marketing restrictions and enforcement, effective 7 January 2027. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Authorized temporary speed limits, contraflow operations, and nightly closures on the M48 Severn Bridge Crossing for maintenance works starting in July 2026. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Prohibited the flight of unmanned aircraft below 500 feet in a specified area of Brighton during a music festival on 16 July 2026. View
  • 6th Jul 26 Established mandatory content and documentation requirements for formal notices issued to landowners before authorized persons enter property for infrastructure planning purposes. View
  • 3rd Jul 26 Amended the fee structure for criminal legal aid advocates by increasing preparation fee rates and lowering eligibility thresholds for wasted preparation claims. View
  • 3rd Jul 26 Postponed the commencement of specific procurement publication rules from October 2026 to May 2027. View
  • 3rd Jul 26 Amended existing licensing extensions to permit alcohol sales during specific late-night and early-morning FIFA World Cup matches in July 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Corrected typographical and factual errors in the Explanatory Note of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Revoked the Pensions Regulator's Code of Practice for collective defined contribution schemes effective July 31, 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Amended the 2014 Order to update and clarify which regulatory functions of the FCA and PRA are eligible for investigation under the statutory Complaints Scheme. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the vicinity of Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar, effective July 2, 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Appointed 31 July 2026 as the commencement date for the Pensions Regulator's Code of Practice on Collective Defined Contribution schemes and revoked the corresponding 2022 Order. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Established a mandatory digital system for tracking controlled waste in England, introduced a £26 annual operator fee, and granted the Environment Agency powers to issue civil penalties for non-compliance. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Designated 24th June 2026 as the date ending the access preparation period for the coastal path between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Increased the central service fee for Clean Air Zone payments from £2 to £4 and extended the fee liability period until 2031. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Activated legal provisions clarifying the boundary between traditional civil procedure and new online court rules in England and Wales. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in designated Coventry airspace during 4 and 5 July 2026 to ensure public safety during large events. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Restricted the operation of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Knebworth during July 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Restricted flying in the vicinity of RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, during public air displays scheduled for July 2026. View
  • 2nd Jul 26 Commenced provisions of the Communications Act 2003 and Media Act 2024 relating to the categorization and broadcasting of listed national events while establishing saving provisions for existing contracts. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Amended reporting procedures for pleasure craft to permit electronic arrival notifications and clarify flag-signaling requirements. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Expanded eligibility for free school lunches to pupils in maintained nursery schools in England whose parents receive Universal Credit. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Expanded the categories of Court Martial sentences eligible for leniency reviews and adjusted procedural deadlines for the Attorney General. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Designated eleven specific government-issued bonds as gilt-edged securities to exempt them from capital gains and corporation tax. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Shortened the time periods and standardized the notice requirements for the retention and disposal of motor vehicles seized by police authorities. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Specified independent remuneration panels and amended regional authority constitutions to permit allowances for members with special responsibilities. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Restricted flight below 2,500 feet within 2 nautical miles of Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar, except for aircraft directed by police. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Established an emergency restricted flight zone up to 3,000 feet above mean sea level near Chipping Ongar, Essex. View
  • 1st Jul 26 Activated legal requirements for football clubs regarding the protection of home grounds, heritage markers, and regulatory notification duties as of July 2026. View

The Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Clean Air Zones Central Services (Fees) (England) Regulations 2020 to increase the financial obligations of local charging authorities to the Secretary of State.

The instrument raises the fee per processed payment from £2 to £4 when the central services system is used to handle Clean Air Zone charges.

Furthermore, it extends the duration for which authorities are liable to pay these fees through 31st March 2031, applying specifically to charging authorities within England.

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The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 2nd Jul 26

These regulations bring into force specific provisions of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 that manage the relationship between standard civil court procedures and new digital legal processes in England and Wales.

The order directs that paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 and part of section 31 of the Act take effect simultaneously with the Online Procedure (Rules and Practice Directions) Rules 2026.

These provisions primarily apply to the judiciary and legal professionals by clarifying that Civil Procedure Rules and existing practice directions shall not apply to online proceedings unless specifically authorized by digital-procedure-specific regulations or directions.

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The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Coventry) Regulations 2026

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Coventry) Regulations 2026 prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level in a specific area of Coventry.

These restrictions apply between 11:00 and 22:59 UTC on 4 July and 5 July 2026 to manage risks associated with large public gatherings.

The order applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, except those granted specific permission by the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.

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The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Knebworth, Hertfordshire) Regulations 2026

These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within a specified geographic area of Knebworth, Hertfordshire, during a music festival.

The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft operators except those who obtain written permission from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Drone Team.

These rules remain in effect during specific intervals between July 10, 2026, and July 12, 2026, to manage safety and security risks associated with large public gatherings.

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The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Leeming) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 2nd Jul 26

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Leeming) Regulations 2026 prohibit aircraft from flying below 7,000 feet within a 5-nautical-mile radius of RAF Leeming during specific periods on 22 and 23 July 2026.

These restrictions apply to all aircraft except those granted specific permission by the Leeming Show Flying Display Director.

The Department for Transport issued these regulations to facilitate public flying displays and manage safety during high-energy aerial manoeuvres.

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The Communications Act 2003 (Commencement No. 6) and Media Act 2024 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2026

These Regulations bring into force specific provisions of the Communications Act 2003 and the Media Act 2024 on January 1, 2027, primarily concerning the regulation of 'listed events' such as major sporting fixtures.

The instrument directs the categorisation of these events into Group A and Group B and updates the restrictions regarding live coverage and contract reporting.

It applies to the Secretary of State, media regulators such as OFCOM, and broadcasting organizations involved in the acquisition of rights for events of national interest.

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The Pleasure Craft (Arrival and Report) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These regulations amend the procedures for pleasure craft arriving in the United Kingdom by explicitly authorizing electronic methods for notifying arrival and submitting reports.

The person responsible for a vessel must notify an officer of arrival as soon as practicable and maintain a signal flag until instructed otherwise. These rules apply to operators and owners of pleasure craft as defined by previous customs legislation and are administered by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

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The Education (Free School Lunches in Maintained Nursery Schools) (Universal Credit) (England) Order 2026

This Order establishes free school lunch eligibility for registered pupils at maintained nursery schools in England if their parent receives Universal Credit and they do not already qualify under existing legislative criteria.

It directs school authorities to treat these pupils as eligible persons under section 512ZB(4A) of the Education Act 1996.

The provisions apply specifically to the education sector in England and involve parents who are recipients of Universal Credit.

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