The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026 prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified radius of Lytham, Lancashire. These restrictions apply from 1500 to 2259 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time daily between 1st July and 5th July 2026.
The regulations permit flights only if authorized by the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team, and they apply to all operators of unmanned aircraft within the designated coordinates.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that flight restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that restrictions are required for public safety and security at the request of Lancashire Police.
The document specifies that the measures are intended to manage risks associated with the Lytham Festival scheduled for July 2026.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that the regulations grant discretionary power to the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team to permit specific flights without defining the criteria for such permissions.
Operators of unmanned aircraft may argue that the five-day duration and specific altitude restrictions limit hobbyist or commercial activity in the specified area.
Civil liberties organizations could raise concerns regarding the necessity of total flight bans for public gatherings and whether the 0.5 nautical mile radius is proportional to the stated security risks.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lytham, Lancashire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 1st July 2026.
This section establishes the official title of the statutory instrument.
It sets the date the regulations legally take effect as 1st July 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This provision clarifies the time standard used for the flight restrictions.
It specifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the applicable reference, which the document notes is one hour behind British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 2259 hours on each of the 5 days beginning with 1st July 2026 and ending with 5th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile centred at 534409N 0025727W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,100 feet within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of a specific coordinate in Lytham during designated evening hours.
It applies to a five-day period in July 2026.
The restriction is not absolute; it allows for exceptions if an operator obtains prior permission from the Lancashire Police Counter-UAS Team.
UAS refers to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly known as drones.
Related
The Financial Services Act 2012 (Relevant Functions in relation to Complaints Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2026
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.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the vicinity of Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar, effective July 2, 2026.
Read MoreThe Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026
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.
Read MoreThe Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Bawdsey to Aldeburgh) Order 2026
Designated 24th June 2026 as the date ending the access preparation period for the coastal path between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh.
Read More