Deputy Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Cllr Lauren Townsend
Milton Keynes City Council has been awarded almost £800,000 in government funding to become the UK’s trailblazer for robotics in public spaces.
The funding, part of the Department for Science and Innovation’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, will power the development of RoboPASS – a licensing system designed to safely integrate multi-purpose robots into everyday public life. The funding will help the city council explore the considerations local authorities need to take before allowing robotics operations.
From inspecting infrastructure and supporting environmental services, robots from the project could eventually become a familiar sight on redways across the city.
This initiative places Milton Keynes at the forefront of the smart city movement, with its potential to reduce costs and improve public services. The city council also hopes to launch a Smart City Testbed prospectus at the end of the project, explaining how other robotics companies can launch trials and services in the city. This will attract private sector innovation and investment, and further cement the city’s reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology.
To deliver RoboPASS, the city council is partnering with Smart City Consultancy (SMCCL) and a national robotics committee made up of 15 regulatory and standards bodies and over 200 experts from 16 sectors. Together, they aim to create a scalable model that can be rolled out across the UK.
The city council was also previously successful in Regulators’ Pioneer Fund round three, and used this funding to investigate the practical barriers to drone operations in the city.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in smart city innovation and this project is a vital step in making robotics a safe and practical part of everyday life. By creating a clear framework, we’re unlocking new opportunities to support public services, improve infrastructure and reduce costs. At the same time, we’re attracting investment, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”
Last month, around 2,000 people attended Milton Keynes Tech Week, showing MK’s growing influence in the tech sector. One in three city jobs are based in tech.
The UK Government’s Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) funds regulators and local authorities to trial new and innovative regulatory approaches enabling businesses to bring innovative products to the market quicker. In October 2025, through the Fourth Round of the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, the RIO has awarded Milton Keynes City Council a grant of £775,000 via the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund (RPF) to deliver the RoboPASS project.