Britons overwhelmingly oppose food delivery robots on pavements
Britons overwhelmingly oppose food delivery robots on pavements, with 60% demanding a ban due to safety risks for pedestrians.
Public opinion in the UK strongly opposes the use of food delivery robots on pavements, with a survey of 2,100 people—conducted by the charity Living Streets—showing that 60% of respondents want a ban on these devices. The devices, including those from Starship Technologies which work with Co-op, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, face particular scrutiny over their impact on pedestrian safety. Nearly 80% of those favoring restrictions cite risks to blind pedestrians, while 79% say the robots endanger people with mobility challenges.
The survey follows Chancellor John Healey’s recent announcement of plans to simplify testing of advanced technologies like delivery robots through new “sandboxing powers.” The powers will make it easier for companies to “safely test” such technologies, which might be currently “prevented by the system of regulation.” Living Streets argues that existing UK law lacks a clear definition of personal delivery devices (PDDs), creating a regulatory gap that has allowed companies to deploy the technology without adequate oversight.
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The call for stricter regulations follows Chancellor John Healey’s announcement of plans to simplify testing of advanced technologies like delivery robots through new “sandboxing powers.” These changes will make it easier for companies to “safely test” such technologies, which might be currently “prevented by the system of regulation.” Living Streets has demanded an immediate halt to all autonomous delivery robots until legal definitions are established.
Starship Technologies, a leading operator in this sector, has previously urged the UK government to define PDDs in law, describing the current situation as a “grey area.” The company operates in cities such as Sheffield, Leeds, and Cambridge, where local councils report varying public reactions. While a survey in Cambourne found 93% of residents viewing the robots favorably, 75% of respondents in Leeds expressed support for their use. Starship operates alongside competitors like Delivers.AI and Cartken in locations including Barnsley, Milton Keynes, Reading, Bristol, and Sunderland, where the regulatory system remains inconsistent.
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Despite widespread opposition, the technology has expanded rapidly. In July, Uber announced a partnership with Starship to introduce autonomous food deliveries across the UK, Europe, and the US by 2027. Earlier this year, Just Eat and Starship launched a joint hot takeaway delivery service in Sunderland, with plans to extend the service based on customer demand. Starship argues that its service particularly benefits underserved communities, noting that 25% of its regular UK customers are disabled or live with someone who has a disability.
The company also highlights economic and environmental advantages, with a 2025 report by Prysm Global, commissioned by Starship, estimating that expanding the UK fleet could increase grocery spending by £125 million and create 555 high-skilled jobs by 2035, alongside almost £11 million in cumulative wages. Starship’s robots, which have completed nearly 10 million deliveries since their UK launch in 2018, operate in over 270 locations worldwide, with more than 2,700 robots currently in use.
