The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt’s Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026 establish a legally mandated restriction on the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,350 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius centred at 513916N 0000103E to ensure the security and public safety related to the National Police Air Service base located there, while permitting operations authorized by or on behalf of the National Police Air Service.
Arguments For
Enhancing the security and public safety surrounding the critical operations of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) base at Lippitt's Hill.
Preventing potential interference or hazards to NPAS aircraft operations, which are vital for law enforcement and emergency response.
Establishing a clear, legally enforceable restricted airspace zone (EGR1U082) defined by precise geographical coordinates and altitude limits.
Ensuring regulatory consistency by revoking a prior, similar set of regulations (from 2025) and replacing them with updated legislation.
Arguments Against
Imposing limitations on the legitimate use of drones or unmanned aircraft by the general public, hobbyists, or commercial operators in the specified geographical area.
Requiring operators to seek explicit permission from NPAS for any flight within the restricted zone, potentially causing administrative burdens or delays.
Restricting the overall freedom of navigation and airspace use below 1,350 feet in the vicinity of the defined radius (0.5 nautical miles).
Necessitating that all relevant parties consult specific official publications (UK Aeronautical Information Publication) to remain compliant, adding complexity to pre-flight checks.
2026 No. 507
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026
Made
-
-
-
- 12th May 2026
Coming into force
-
- 14th May 2026
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 2(1) by reason of the security and public safety considerations associated with the location there of the National Police Air Service.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
This instrument, The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026, is a statutory instrument concerning Civil Aviation, made on May 12, 2026, and effective from May 14, 2026.
The action stems from the Secretary of State judging it necessary, in the public interest, to restrict unmanned aircraft flying due to security and public safety concerns surrounding the National Police Air Service base at Lippitt's Hill.
The authority for these restrictions comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 14th May 2026.
The first regulation establishes the short title or citation for this legal document.
It confirms that these specific regulations are officially called the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Area EGR1U082) Regulations 2026.
It also explicitly states that the rules contained within become legally binding on May 14, 2026.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,350 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at 513916N 0000103E.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-
- (a) operated by or on behalf of the National Police Air Service, or
- (b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the National Police Air Service.
This key regulation defines the restricted area and the conditions under which flights are prohibited.
Generally, no unmanned aircraft may fly lower than 1,350 feet above sea level within a circular area spanning 0.5 nautical miles, centered on the specified geographic coordinates (51°39'16" North, 0°01'03" East).
However, this prohibition does not apply to any unmanned aircraft that is either actively operated by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) or is flying under a specific permission granted by the NPAS.
Revocation of Regulations
- The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Zone E G R182) Regulations 2025( b ) are revoked.
This regulation cancels previous legislation concerning similar restrictions.
It formally revokes The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lippitt's Hill) (Restricted Zone EGR182) Regulations 2025, ensuring that only these new 2026 rules govern the situation.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
12th May 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
( b ) S.I. 2025/164.
This section documents the official signing of the Regulations by Karen L Michaels, a Grade 7 official acting under the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport, dated May 12, 2026.
It also provides necessary legal footnotes referencing the primary legislation used (the 2016 Air Navigation Order, as amended) and the regulations being superseded (S.I. 2025/164).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the National Police Air Service base at Lippitt's Hill.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of security and public safety.
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 2(2)(b), the National Police Air Service may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be included in the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). The restricted area has been designated as EGR1U082 for the purpose of inclusion in the AIP and in related charts and documents.
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the document restricts unmanned aircraft flights near the NPAS base at Lippitt's Hill, an action agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport based on security and safety needs.
Although permission requests under Regulation 2(2)(b) should go to NPAS, the Civil Aviation Authority's contact point for airspace regulation queries is provided.
Full details of this restriction, designated EGR1U082, will be published in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
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