Applications, appeals, permitted development, enforcement and planning strategy across England
Planning explanations, updates and practical guidance in video form
Class F – Development at an airport
Class F is the principal Part 8 permitted development right for development at a relevant airport. It applies to development on operational land by the relevant airport operator, or its agent, in connection with the provision of services and facilities at the airport.
The Class is broad enough to include the erection or alteration of an operational building, but it contains important exclusions for runways, passenger terminals and buildings that are not operational buildings.
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.
What does Class F allow?
Class F can authorise operational airport development on operational land where the developer is the relevant airport operator or its agent and the development is connected with services and facilities at the airport.
Typical operational airport development can include modest facilities such as windsocks, lighting, signs and other equipment required for the operation of the airport, subject to the Class F limitations and conditions.
It does not permit the construction or extension of a runway. It also places limits on passenger terminal development and excludes the erection of a building other than an operational building, together with reconstruction or alteration that materially affects the design or external appearance of a non-operational building.
Consultation with the local planning authority
Before beginning development under Class F, the relevant airport operator must consult the local planning authority and give it an opportunity to advise whether it wishes to suggest reasonable alterations or conditions. The developer must consider any response.
An urgent-works exception applies to limited small-scale development where it is urgently required for the efficient running of the airport and remains within the statutory height and volume limits.
For Class F, the definition of an operational building in Paragraph O is expressly tied to this Class. It excludes a hotel and is linked to the movement or maintenance of aircraft and to handling passengers, livestock or goods at a relevant airport.
Legislation
Class F – development at an airport
Permitted development
F. The carrying out on operational land by a relevant airport operator or its agent of development (including the erection or alteration of an operational building) in connection with the provision of services and facilities at a relevant airport.
Development not permitted
F.1 Development is not permitted by Class F if it would consist of or include—
(a) the construction or extension of a runway;
(b) the construction of a passenger terminal the floor space of which would exceed 500 square metres;
(c) the extension or alteration of a passenger terminal, where the floor space of the building as existing at 5th December 1988 or, if built after that date, of the building as built, would be exceeded by more than 15%;
(d) the erection of a building other than an operational building; or
(e) the alteration or reconstruction of a building other than an operational building, where its design or external appearance would be materially affected.
Condition
F.2 Development is permitted by Class F subject to the condition that the relevant airport operator consults the local planning authority before carrying out any development, unless that development falls within the description in paragraph F.4.
Interpretation of Class F
F.3 For the purposes of paragraph F.1, floor space is calculated by external measurement and without taking account of the floor space in any pier or satellite.
F.4 Development falls within this paragraph if—
(a) it is urgently required for the efficient running of the airport, and
(b) it consists of the carrying out of works, or the erection or construction of a structure or of an ancillary building, or the placing on land of equipment, and the works, structure, building, or equipment do not exceed 4 metres in height or 200 cubic metres in capacity.
Current legislation: Part 8 of Schedule 2 on legislation.gov.uk
Airport development Page Updated: 23rd September 2026