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Class H: Crown air traffic services on operational land
Class H permits the Crown to develop operational land in connection with providing air traffic services. Unlike Class G, its wording does not confine the land to within 8 kilometres of an airbase.
England only. Welsh permitted development rules are separate.
Need help with permitted development?
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.
Limits on equipment buildings
A new building must be used to house air traffic services equipment and must not exceed 4 metres high. Radar, a radio mast, antenna or other apparatus is limited to 15 metres, or the height of a replaced item if higher.
Confirm both the operational character of the land and the air traffic services purpose; Class H is not a general right to develop any Crown property.
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 H
The text below is reproduced for convenience. The current version linked above remains the source for a proposal.
Class H – development on operational land by the Crown connected with air traffic services
Permitted development
H. The carrying out on operational land, by or on behalf of the Crown, of development in connection with the provision of air traffic services.
Development not permitted
H.1 Development is not permitted by Class H if—
(a) any building erected would be used for a purpose other than housing equipment used in connection with the provision of air traffic services;
(b) any building erected would exceed a height of 4 metres; or
(c) it would consist of the installation or erection of any radar or radio mast, antenna or other apparatus which would exceed 15 metres in height, or, where an existing mast, antenna or apparatus is replaced, the height of that mast, antenna or apparatus, if greater.
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: 18th August 2023. Page updated: 24th September 2026.