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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

Ministers likely to support law change to allow delivery robots on England’s paths

A Starship Technologies robot passing a Tesco and about to pass a shopper
A Starship Technologies robot in 2023. The manufacturer is hoping to sell at least 10,000 delivery robots into England and make them locally if the law is changed. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Large numbers of autonomous delivery robots could be coming to towns and cities across England after ministers signalled they were likely to support a change in the law allowing their use, prompting concern from safety campaigners.

Low-speed robots, which mainly deliver groceries or takeaway food, are already in use in a handful of places but they operate in a regulatory grey area. The 1835 Highways Act bans “carriages” from pavements.

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