Delivery robots could soon become a much more common sight outside shops, restaurants and homes across England as ministers prepare to support legal changes allowing them to operate on pavements.
The government is expected to update the law around low-speed autonomous delivery devices, paving the way for wider use of pavement robots across towns and cities.
The move could open up a major new last-mile delivery channel for retailers, grocers and takeaway operators, with robots already being used in areas including Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds and Barnsley.
Starship Technologies, one of the best-known operators in the space, is understood to be targeting a significant UK expansion if the legal position is clarified. The company has said it hopes to sell more than 10,000 delivery robots in England and would consider setting up a UK manufacturing site if regulation is updated.
At present, delivery robots operate in a legal grey area. The 1835 Highways Act bans “carriages” from pavements, but autonomous robots have increasingly been trialled as councils, retailers and technology firms look for cheaper, lower-emission ways to handle short-distance deliveries.
The Department for Transport has said there is currently no specific legislation for delivery robots, but ministers have committed to pursuing reform for micromobility vehicles “when parliamentary time allows”.
The new category could allow pavement robots to be regulated more formally, rather than operating through local trials or informal arrangements.
However, the plans have sparked concern from pedestrian safety campaigners, who argue that already crowded pavements should not be opened up to large-scale robot deployment without tougher controls.
Living Streets has warned that autonomous delivery devices could create extra hazards for older people, wheelchair users, blind or partially sighted pedestrians and people using mobility aids.
The charity has called on transport secretary Heidi Alexander to ensure any consultation puts pedestrian safety and accessibility at the centre of the process.
A government spokesperson said innovation could support the economy, but stressed that the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users must come first.
The issue is likely to be closely watched by retailers and delivery platforms as they look to reduce the cost and carbon impact of last-mile fulfilment.
However, any wider rollout is likely to depend on how far ministers allow local authorities to control deployments, including where robots can operate, how many are allowed in an area and what safety standards operators must meet.
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