Part 19: Development by the Crown or for national security purposes

Part 19 of Schedule 2 to the GPDO gives the Crown, and development for certain national security purposes, a specific set of permitted development rights.

These rights are separate from the newer Crown development application route for nationally important Crown development which needs express planning permission.

Each class below explains the relevant permitted development right and links to the up-to-date legislation.

The twenty three sections within Part 19 are as follows:

Class A – General development by the Crown

Class B – Extension or alteration of an operational Crown building

Class C – Developments on operational Crown land

Class D – Hard surfaces for operational Crown buildings

Class E – Development on operational Crown land relating to an airbase

Class F – Development on operational land within an airbase

Class G – Development on operational land outside an airbase

Class H – Development on operational land by the Crown connected with air traffic services

Class I – Emergency use of land by the Crown connected with air traffic services

Class J – Use of land etc by the Crown connected with air traffic services

Class K – Use of land by the Crown in relation to surveys etc

Class L – Use of buildings by the Crown on an airbase connected to air transport services etc

Class M – Development by the Crown on operational Crown land connected to rail

Class N – Development by the Crown on operational Crown land connected to shipping etc

Class O – Use of land by the Crown for spreading of dredged material

Class P – Development by the Crown on operational Crown land etc relating to aids to shipping

Class Q – Development by the Crown relating to an emergency

Class QA – Development by the Crown relating to a pandemic

Class R – Erection etc of gates, fences etc by the Crown for national security purposes

Class S – Closed circuit television cameras for national security purposes

Class T – Electronic communication apparatus etc for national security purposes

Class TA – Development by the Crown on a closed defence site

Paragraph U – Definitions of words and phrases used in Part 19

Related: Crown land enforcement – how the planning rules reach the Crown

Page Updated: 29th August 2026