The events take place at:
- Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall IP28 7JX
9.30am–2pm, Saturday 7 February 2026
- East Point Pavilion, Royal Plain, Lowestoft NR33 0AP
10am–2pm, Saturday 28 February 2026
The council has been working with design experts Smart City Consultancy to assess the technical, operational, and regulatory requirements of incorporating autonomous shuttle services into a potential future network of mobility hubs across the county.
Shuttles could potentially link future residential developments with strategic bus routes, improve accessibility, and support sustainable transport especially in rural areas.
Shuttles could travel shorter routes to feed main bus and train service corridors where the frequency of buses and trains could be increased, and journey times can be shorter.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport Strategy, said: “Autonomous vehicles are not trying to replace cars, they are a means to fix specific, expensive gaps in transportation.
“As a council we are committed to delivering a range of transport options to meet the changing needs of the county, which is why we are undertaking this study.
“We really want to hear what people think so I would urge people to come along, see the vehicles in action and take part in the survey.”
In May 2025, Suffolk County Council secured a £75,000 government grant through the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder 1 programme, administered by the Innovation Funding Service.
The funding supports feasibility studies aligned with the government’s ambition to establish a £40 billion connected autonomous mobility sector by 2040. ADASTRAL is one of 14 initiatives selected nationally.
Working with partners Smart City Consultancy Limited and Ohmio UK, the council is delivering a £325,000 feasibility study exploring how autonomous shuttles could be used alongside other transport options.
This would be via mobility hubs — transport interchanges that bring together walking, wheeling, cycling, buses, trains and shared mobility such as e-scooters, e-bikes and car clubs, alongside private cars.
The ADASTRA prototype is an Ohmio Lift shuttle, built in New Zealand.
It is designed as a fully autonomous vehicle, with no steering wheel or driver’s seat. It can carry up to 14 passengers at speeds of up to 40mph; however, during the trial it is limited to eight seated passengers with a safety operator, travelling at up to 15mph.
The shuttle is operated by Smart City Consultancy and based at BT Adastral Park near Ipswich.
The project team has already showcased the shuttle to the public, business leaders and industry at EVEX 2025 and The Big Bus Show 2025.
To take part in the online survey go to the Suffolk County Council website.
