Legislation Published July 2026
UK legislation and statutory instruments introduced in July 2026.
Summary
- 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 Pensions Act 2004 (Code of Practice) (Revocation) Order 2026
This Order revokes the Pensions Regulator’s Code of Practice regarding the authorisation and supervision of collective defined contribution schemes.
It exercises powers granted to the Secretary of State under the Pensions Act 2004 and applies to the regulatory framework governing occupational pension schemes in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The revocation precedes the issuance of a revised code intended to incorporate legislative extensions for unconnected multiple employer schemes.
This Order modifies the list of regulatory functions of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) that are subject to the statutory Complaints Scheme.
It mandates that certain functions under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the Securitisation Regulations 2024 fall within the scope of independent investigation for maladministration, while specifically excluding legislative actions such as making technical standards and issuing general guidance.
The Order applies to the UK's financial regulators and ensures certain administrative duties are subject to oversight by the independent complaints commissioner.
The Secretary of State for Transport revokes the emergency flight restrictions previously established for the Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar area.
The regulations remove the prohibitions on aircraft operations in that vicinity because the underlying emergency has passed and the restrictions are no longer deemed necessary for the public interest.
The order applies to all pilots and aircraft operators who were previously subject to the constraints of the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar) (Emergency) (No. 2) Regulations 2026.
The Pensions Act 2004 (Code of Practice) (Authorisation and Supervision of Collective Defined Contribution Schemes) Appointed Day and Revocation Order 2026
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions establishes 31 July 2026 as the date on which the Pensions Regulator’s updated Code of Practice regarding the authorisation and supervision of collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes takes legal effect.
The Order applies to the Pensions Regulator and trustees or managers of CDC schemes in England, Wales, and Scotland.
It further revokes the 2022 Order that brought the previous iteration of the Code into force.
The Digital Waste Tracking (England) Regulations 2026
These Regulations established an electronic digital waste tracking system in England to monitor the movement and management of controlled waste, including household, industrial, and commercial waste.
They direct operators of permitted facilities to record specified information in the system within two working days of receiving waste and to pay an annual fee of £26 to the designated person, defined as the Secretary of State.
The Environment Agency is authorized to monitor compliance and may impose civil sanctions, such as fixed or variable monetary penalties, or pursue criminal charges for failures to comply with recording, retention, or notification requirements.
The document also provides specific procedures for digitally excluded persons and protocols for system outages.
The Access to the Countryside (Coastal Margin) (Bawdsey to Aldeburgh) Order 2026
This Order establishes June 24, 2026, as the date on which the access preparation period ends for land designated as coastal margin between Bawdsey and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
It applies to land identified in five specific reports submitted by Natural England and approved by the Secretary of State under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
By concluding the access preparation period, the Order triggers the legal commencement of public access rights to this stretch of coastal land under the terms of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
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.
The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2026
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.