Suffolk County Council has secured £75,000 of Government funding for a feasibility study exploring introducing self-driving shuttle vehicles into its transport network.

The ADASTRA study is one of 14 initiatives across the UK selected for funding through the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Feasibility Studies Competition in support of the government’s ambition to establish a £40bn CAM sector by 2040.

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 are to 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.

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.

“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” – Cllr Chris Chambers, Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste

Cllr 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.”

Cambridge autonomous given £1m boost

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has secured an additional £1m in funding from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) to expand its Connector project. The scheme sees Whippet operate a trial of an autonomous bus service in Cambridge. Since its launch in June 2025, Connector has covered over 700 miles and carried nearly 200 passengers in real-world trials across Cambridge West.

The new investment will extend the current trials while exploring how autonomous technology can be integrated into existing and future busway infrastructure. It also includes research to ensure that automated transport is accessible and inclusive for all users.