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Class J: Temporary land use for air traffic services
Class J permits the Crown to use land for services and facilities linked to air traffic services and to erect or place moveable structures for that use. It is a temporary right.
England only. Welsh permitted development rules are separate.
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Permitted development can avoid a full planning application, but only if the right applies and every relevant limit and condition is met. Planning Geek can check the planning history, Article 4 directions and other restrictions, and help with a lawful development certificate or prior approval where needed.
Six-month limit
Within six months of the start of the use, it must cease, the structures must be removed and the land restored to its previous condition or another state agreed in writing with the local planning authority.
Check that the services, facilities and moveable structures genuinely serve the air traffic services use. A permanent new facility needs a different planning route.
Official source and further checks
The authoritative wording is Schedule 2 Part 19 of the GPDO 2015. Apply the general provisions in Article 3 as well as the class-specific rules. These pages describe England; Wales has its own GPDO.
Related: Crown land enforcement and the separate Crown development application route.
Wording of Part 19 Class J
The text below is reproduced for convenience. The current version linked above remains the source for a proposal.
Class J – use of land etc by the Crown connected with air traffic services
Permitted development
J. The use of land by or on behalf of the Crown to provide services and facilities in connection with the provision of air traffic services and the erection or placing of moveable structures on the land for the purposes of that use.
Condition
J.1 Development is permitted by Class J subject to the condition that, on or before the expiry of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the use began, the use ceases, any structure is removed, and the land is restored to its condition before the development took place, or to such other state as may be agreed in writing between the local planning authority and the developer.
Explore GPDO Part 19
- Part 19 overview: Crown and national security
- Class A: General development by the Crown
- Class B: Operational Crown building extensions
- Class C: Development on operational Crown land
- Class D: Hard surfaces at Crown buildings
- Class E: Airbase operational development
- Class F: Air traffic services inside an airbase
- Class G: Air traffic services outside an airbase
- Class H: Air traffic services on operational land
- Class I: Emergency air traffic apparatus
- Class J: Temporary land use for air traffic services
- Class K: Crown surveys and investigations
- Class L: Buildings on an airbase
- Class M: Crown rail development
- Class N: Crown shipping development
- Class O: Spreading dredged material
- Class P: Lighthouses and aids to shipping
- Class Q: Crown emergency development
Page first published: 21st August 2023. Page updated: 24th September 2026.