Updated: Updated Lapsed byelaws list.
Overview
Across the defence estate the department has numerous and varied sites ranging from coastal firing ranges to garrisons in urban areas, each with its own set of issues. A byelaws review team has been set up specifically to look at this important area. It is a painstaking and complex exercise which will take several years to complete.
As a first step the team has identified MOD sites which have no byelaws but are now deemed necessary. These have been prioritised and each in turn made subject to individual review to determine the precise individual requirements to be included.
Byelaws are a form of delegated legislation, used mostly by local authorities and government departments; they cover a defined geographical area, normally regulating certain activities in the interests of safety and security. Presently under the provisions of the Military Lands Act 1892 (s14), the Secretary of State for Defence is empowered to make byelaws to regulate the use of land being used for military purposes.
Many of these byelaws date back to the early part of the 20th century and do not reflect subsequent changes within the department or changes of use within sites. Breach of a byelaw is a criminal offence and as such the enforcement of byelaws is one of a number of tools which the department can use to help protect its sites. Equally the presence of byelaws can allow public access over areas of the estate that would otherwise be prohibited.
The review is being conducted in accordance with the principles of open government. In addition to listing all byelaws that have lapsed and those to be reviewed, it advertises proposed new byelaws as they are issued, enabling wider public consultation within the process. After being collated and recorded all responses received during the consultation process are found through this website together with the department’s replies.
As the review proceeds copies of all new byelaws made by the Secretary of State are added to the site under the reviewed byelaws category. The byelaws are also available to download from the UKSI website once made.
It is intended that this byelaws information will be maintained in perpetuity enabling free online public access to all Ministry of Defence byelaws and background material about the review.
MOD byelaws are defined in the following categories:
lapsed byelaws
revoked byelaws
byelaws to be reviewed
proposed new byelaws
reviewed byelaws
Additional content is added as the review progresses.
Contact details
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Byelaws Review team
PO Box 349
Aldershot
GU11 2WZ
Telephone: 01252 361986 (answer phone)
dio-byelawsreviewteam@mod.uk
Byelaws by region
Select a region below to view the byelaws.
Channel Islands byelaws
East Anglia byelaws
East Midlands byelaws
Greater London
North East byelaws
North West byelaws
Northern Ireland byelaws
Scotland byelaws
South East byelaws
South West byelaws
Wales byelaws
West Midlands byelaws
Yorkshire and Humberside byelaws
Byelaws documents
Key documents relating to byelaws:
Byelaws documents
Byelaws signage
Byelaws consultation process
Information about the consultation process.
Proposed new or replacement MOD byelaws undergoing public consultation
Ministry of Defence byelaws responses
Reviewed byelaws
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston Byelaws 2007
The Woodbury Common Range Byelaws 2009
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Burghfield Byelaws 2010
The RAF Welford Byelaws 2010
The Atomic Weapons Establishment Blacknest Byelaws 2010
The Thetford Range Byelaws 2011
Northwood Headquarters Byelaws 2011
Ot Moor Range Byelaws 2012
The Caversfield Service Family Accommodation Byelaws 2012
The RAF Barford St John Byelaws 2014
The RAF Croughton Byelaws 2014
The Sculthorpe Training Area Byelaws 2015
The RAF Brize Norton Byelaws 2015
The Templeton Training Area Byelaws 2016
Is-ddeddfau Ardal Hyfforddi Tredeml 2016
The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Byelaws 2016
Byelaws to be reviewed
Information held in the National Archives:
List of byelaws to be reviewed
Revoked byelaws
Over the years the MOD has reviewed existing byelaws, in the process revoking previous byelaws. The MOD has also revoked byelaws on land that is in the process of being disposed of. This list may be helpful in showing for environmental and historical research those areas of the country once occupied by MOD.
Aberporth Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range and Projectile Development Range in the County of Cardigan Byelaws 1941
(PDF, 4.61MB)
Aldershot and District Military Lands Byelaws 1939
(PDF, 2.53MB)
Aldershot and District Military Lands Byelaws 1950
(PDF, 2.18MB)
Atomic Weapons Research Establishment Aldermaston Byelaws 1986
Bellerby Moor and Wathgill Ranges Byelaws 1972
(PDF, 4.05MB)
Brecon Beacons Rifle Range Byelaws 1905
Browndown Rifle Ranges in the County of Hampshire Byelaws 1918
(PDF, 2.34MB)
Browndown Rifle Ranges Byelaws 1929
(PDF, 3.69MB)
Canterbury Military Lands Byelaws 1915
(PDF, 1.86MB)
Canterbury Military Lands Byelaws 1923
(PDF, 2.03MB, 5 pages)
Castlemartin Armoured Fighting Vehicles Ranges Byelaws 1942
(PDF, 7.21MB)
Catterick Bellerby Moor Rifle Ranges Byelaws 1931
(PDF, 4.46MB)
Catterick Bellerby Moor Rifle Ranges Byelaws 1932
(PDF, 2.87MB)
HMS Forest Moor and Menwith Hill Station Byelaws 1986
(PDF, 2.02MB)
The Holy Loch Byelaws 1986 and The Holy Loch (Revocation) Byelaw 1992
Ot Moor Range Byelaws 1980
Portsdown Hill Military Lands 1928
(PDF, 1.95MB)
Portsdown Hill Military Lands 1935
(PDF, 2.42MB)
Porton Experimental Station Salisbury military lands byelaws 1923
(PDF, 1.53MB)
Royal Air Force Welford byelaws 1988
The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Byelaws 1975
(PDF, 4.51MB)
The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Byelaws 1984
(PDF, 2.15MB, 14 pages)
The Royal Ordnance Factory Burghfield byelaws 1986
Royal Tank Corps Centre Bovington Camp Military Lands Byelaws 1925
(PDF, 2.29MB)
Shoeburyness military tramways byelaws 1960
Thetford Rifle Range in the County of Norfolk byelaws 1916
Strensall Camp Military Lands byelaws 1936
Watchet anti-aircraft artillery range in the County of Somerset byelaws 1932
(PDF, 2.85MB)
Weybourne anti-aircraft artillery range in the County of Norfolk Byelaws 1937
Woolmer Forest and Longmoor rifle ranges byelaws 1915
(PDF, 1.28MB)
Yantlet (Grain Island) Artillery Range in the County of Kent Byelaws 1939
(PDF, 2.55MB)
Lapsed byelaws
Over the years the MOD has sold or transferred the freehold or relinquished the leasehold at a significant number of sites that were once the subject of byelaws. In order to give guidance to the public as to which byelaws are recognised as being unenforceable these have been collated on to The National Archives ‘lapsed list’.
This list may also be helpful in showing for environmental and historical research those areas of the country once occupied by MOD. Unfortunately in some cases the department no longer holds copies of the relevant byelaws listed below and consequently in these cases no active hyperlink is in place. It is possible, however, that copies may still be held in local county record offices, but no check has been made by MOD.”
Aberayron Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range in the County of Cardiganshire Byelaws 1942
Aldeburgh Artillery Ranges Byelaws 1896
Artillery Practice Range, Llandudno in the County of Caernarvonshire Byelaws 1942
Beechwood Rifle Range in the County of Buckingham Byelaws 1915
Berwick Rifle Range in the County of Northumberland Byelaws 1926
Bilberry Hill (Gun Proof) Range Near Birmingham Byelaws 1917
Bincombe Rifle Range in the County of Dorset Byelaws 1915
Birchington Rifle Range in the County of Kent Byelaws 1925
Bishop’s Stortford Rifle Range, in the Counties of Hertford and Essex Byelaws 1915
Blandford Downs Rifle Range in the County of Dorset Byelaws 1917
Boreham Rifle Range in the County of Essex Byelaws 1927
Borstal Rifle Range Byelaws 1923
Boynton Rifle Range Byelaws 1925
Burrow Head Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range (In the County of Wigtown) 1940
Chisledon Camp (Army Vocational Training Centre) Military Lands Byelaws 1931
Cleave Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range (In the County of Cornwall) Byelaws 1939
Conyer Teynham Rifle Range Byelaws 1966
Crichel Down Bombing Range Byelaws 1940
Didcot Central Ordnance Depot Byelaws 1939
Druridge Bay (in the County of Northumberland) Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Byelaws 1939
Eastney Rifle Range in the County of Hampshire 1936
Elveden Rifle Range in the County of Norfolk Byelaws 1942
Fanhole Rifle Range in the County of Kent Byelaws 1926
Farnborough Air Ministry Lands Byelaws 1933
Felixstowe – Landguard Fort Rifle Range Byelaws 1926
Godwin Battery Kilnsea in the County of Yorkshire Byelaws 1939
Great Coates (Grimsby) Rifle Range in the County of Lincolnshire Byelaws 1926
Hampton Lovett Range Byelaws 1960
Hartley Range Northumberland Byelaws 1940
Hawkenbury Classification Range Byelaws 1943
Hawsker Rifle Range in the County of Yorkshire Byelaws 1923
Holkham Field Firing Range Byelaws 1942
Hornsea Rifle Range in the County of Yorkshire Byelaws 1935
Hunstanton Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range in the County of Norfolk Byelaws 1924
Jurby (Isle of Man) Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Byelaws 1939
Kibworth Range Byelaws 1983
Kithurst Range Byelaws 1963
Latheronwheel Machine Gun Range (Near Lybster) in the County of Caithness Byelaws 1928
Leuchars (Tents Muir) (in the County of Fife) Air Gunnery and Bombing Range Byelaws 1937
Little Barningham Range Plumstead in the County of Norfolk Byelaws 1941
Lower Halstow Classification Range in the County of Kent Byelaws 1942
Lydden Spout Range Byelaws 1967
Manston Aerodrome Byelaws 1937
Milton Ranges Byelaws 1963
Morpeth Rifle Range Byelaws 1923
Nairn Range, Nairnshire Byelaws 1941
Ness of Sound Ranges Zetland Byelaws 1941
Netley Military Lands Byelaws 1954
New Passage (River Severn) Ranges in the County of Gloucester Byelaws 1940
Northern Ireland District Military Lands Byelaws 1934
Orfordness Bombing Area Byelaws 1929
Pasley and South Gare Batteries (Near Coatham) in the County of Yorks. Byelaws 1939
Penlee Battery Artillery Ranges Byelaws 1924
Ponclair Range Byelaws 1965
Porthcawl Rifle Range Byelaws 1929
Purfleet Range Byelaws 1983
Pakefield Ranges in the County of Suffolk Byelaws 1939
Pippingford Park Old Lodge Rifle (Classification) 2-in Mortar and Grenade Ranges Byelaws 1943
Rye Rifle Range in the County of Sussex Byelaws 1927
Royal Air Force Burtonwood Byelaws 1986
Royal Air Force Edzell Byelaws 1988
Royal Air Force Greenham Common Byelaws 1985
Royal Air Force Upper Heyford Byelaws 1986
Royal Navy Loch Long Torpedo Range Byelaws 1960 (as amended)
Royal Ordnance Factory Cardiff Byelaws 1986
The Royal Radar Establishment (Pershore Airfield) Byelaws 1959
Sheerness and Grain Defences Byelaws 1932 and Sheerness and Grain Defences Military Lands (Amendment) Byelaws 1952
St. Agnes Head Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range in the County of Cornwall Byelaws 1940
Scarborough Artillery Ranges Byelaws 1902
Sheerness Ranges Proposed Byelaws 1906
Southport Rifle Range Byelaws 1914
Sydling St. Nicholas Ranges Byelaws 1941
Stiffkey Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range in the County of Norfolk Byelaws 1938
Towyn Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range Byelaws 1950
Trawsfynydd Artillery Range Byelaws 1941
Ty-Croes Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range Byelaws 1939
Tynemouth Castle and Spanish Batteries in the County of Northumberland Byelaws 1929
Watchet Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range in the County of Somerset Byelaws 1940
West Barns Ranges Dunbar East Lothian Byelaws 1940
Westerham Rifle Range Byelaws 1942
West Runton Ranges, Norfolk Byelaws 1943
Weybourne Range Norfolk Byelaws 1941
White Sands Rifle Range (Near Dunbar) in the County of East Lothian Byelaws 1926
Whittington Grenade Range Byelaws 1965
Wrekin Range Byelaws 1966
Information held in the National Archives:
List of lapsed byelaws
Why review the byelaws?
Legal, practical and technological developments have all combined to cause the review of all the MOD byelaws. Some of the main issues are as follows:
changes in the operational use of a range may have changed the range danger area rendering the byelaws out-of-date
changes in rights of access to the countryside in England and Wales, particularly as a result of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
changes to access in Scotland. There is a statutory requirement in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for all byelaws to be reviewed. There is a statutory requirement to then change byelaws to meet the requirements of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
changes in de-facto public access need to be considered and incorporated in the byelaws if appropriate
voluntary land registration has resulted in an examination of title issues and a check that MOD is operating byelaws on land which it owns, leases and licences
improvements in mapping technology and a relaxation in security concerns mean that we can produce better plans to attach to byelaws to make them clearer(We have noted the comments by judges that additional clarity in mapping and boundary markers would be desirable in certain cases)
we need to make small changes to some of the standard wording to match changes in other legislation and refer to new MOD operational structures
we need to clarify our control over vehicles on MOD private land and to clearly define our borders with public highways
Sites affected by SOCAP
A number of sites are subject to designations under the provisions of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCAP). MOD wishes to align the byelaws with the SOCAP designations. Enforcement of SOCAP regulations and byelaws is often undertaken by the ‘Ministry of Defence Police (MDP)’.
As part of the review MOD is seeing if it can align byelaws with other statutory instruments such as Dockyard Port Orders. This will ensure greater clarity on where one set of rules on access apply and when other legislation applies.