Planning systems across the UK could face pressure ‘unlike anything the system has handled before’ as autonomous vehicles roll out, according to a new primer paper.
The warning from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Institute for Driverless Transportation (IfDT) comes ahead of an expected London launch of commercial robotaxi services as early as September, with three operators planning to enter the market and Waymo already testing more than 100 vehicles in the capital.
The paper urges planners to weigh the technology's implications for economic development, public health, community life and the environment, warning that poor planning could entrench car dependency and urban sprawl.
Dr Daniel Slade of the RTPI said planners must not be ‘beguiled’ by the new technology and must prepare for major changes within a few years, while ensuring walking, wheeling and public transport remain priorities.
