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 future network of mobility hubs across the county.
A self-driving shuttle, built in New Zealand by Ohmio, is operated by Smart City Consultancy and is based at BT Adastral Park near Ipswich.
The shuttle can accommodate 15 people in total, but currently has a maximum seated capacity of eight, with a safety driver.
Councillor Chris Chambers, Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said:
“We are committed to delivering a range of transport options to meet the changing needs of the county.
“The use of self-driving, environmentally friendly shuttles operating alongside traditional services as part of a Mobility Hub network is a key component of that strategy.
“ADASTRA will enable us to test our ideas with passengers and stakeholders, giving people the chance to see the shuttles in action and build out the longer-term business case.”
The study aims to shape a viable strategy for commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles, potentially linking future residential developments in Suffolk with strategic bus routes.
The central element of the project is testing public perception around safety and operations.
Though the current study does not include trials with remote operators, the findings will inform future planning for staff-free, remotely supervised vehicles.
Future public engagement will see a series of events in high-footfall locations across the county plus an invitation-only event for key stakeholders.
These events aim to gather feedback and raise awareness about how autonomous technology can benefit communities by improving accessibility, addressing driver shortages, and offering sustainable transport solutions, particularly in rural areas.
Ian Pulford, Director at Smart City Consultancy, added:
“We are passionate about driving adoption of new autonomous services.
“ADASTRA is an important first step toward delivering a Suffolk-wide Mobility Hub network that connects people, services and opportunities—ultimately creating jobs and transforming the way we travel.”
The ADASTRA study will position Suffolk to lead in future funding rounds under the £150 million CAM Pathfinder programme.
ADASTRA is part of CCAV’s CAM Pathfinder Programme, funded by UK Government.
The CAM Pathfinder Programme, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, is delivered by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
This is a joint unit between the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Transport (DfT) in partnership with Innovate UK and Zenzic.
