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Filming with drones

Part of: Filming in Trafford

Contents

Drones and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) cannot take off or land on council land without our permission. 

Permission will generally only be granted when:

  • Undertaking a professional service, such as at festivals and events
  • Filming can be supported in line with our film-friendly policy
  • Using a drone aids risk reduction in the workplace, such as working at height, land and building survey work

All owners and operators of UAVs must comply with UK drone laws and privacy laws. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website has information on safe and legal flying.

How to request permission

We will generally not grant permission to private individuals to take off or land their drone on our land.

If you are a commercial operator and would like permission for a drone to take off or land on our property or the public highway for filming purposes, send a completed filming enquiry form to filmingenquiries@trafford.gov.uk.

Applications should be submitted seven days before your proposed shoot day.

Alongside the application, you will need to provide:

  • Copy of your CAA Licence
  • Copy of your public liability insurance (minimum £5 million)
  • Copy of your flight plan, including launch and landing points
  • Copy of your risk assessment showing how you will comply with the terms of your CAA licence. You can find a risk assessment template on our guidance page.

It is unlikely that applications that include flight paths over sites of important biological interest will be approved during the main bird breeding season of 1 March to 31 July. This is because UAVs can appear as predators.

Depending on the nature of your request, you may be required to pay an administration fee and/or a location fee.

Airport and other airfield restrictions

The government has introduced a restriction around every protected aerodrome in the UK. 

The CAA website has more information about airfield restrictions.

You can also use this airspace restrictions map to remain clear of airspace restrictions and find out how to obtain permission to fly within them.