Greater Manchester robot delivery scheme extended across new areas of Trafford following success

More areas of Trafford will soon have autonomous delivery robots roaming their streets. This comes as the scheme is extended following its initial success. 

Trafford Council partnered with the Co-op and Starship Technologies to initially launch the service in March this year. It saw the robots delivering groceries to nearby households from the Co-op stores on Washway Road and Coppice Avenue. The robots were rolled out across Sale and Timperley and now Trafford Council have extended their coverage to Urmston, Flixton and Ashton-on-Mersey. 

Trafford Council’s Executive met on September 18, and agreed plans for the scheme to be extended to Co-op stores in Davyhulme and Flixton, Timperley Central and Ashton upon Mersey. 

According to the council, the delivery robots have already saved over 300 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere by saving car journeys to the supermarket. The robots reportedly use as much energy as it takes to boil water in order to make a single cup of tea. 

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Highways, Environmental and Traded Services, said: “I am delighted that we have decided to extend this trial by a further six months and to roll out the scheme to Urmston, Flixton and Ashton-on-Mersey.   

“Trafford Council is totally committed to helping the environment and reducing our carbon emissions and the electric robots could well contribute towards those aims. The robots have reduced thousands of car journeys and are cutting emissions.

"They also come to the aid of the elderly and disabled who find it difficult to get to their local shops by bringing the items to their door. We are excited to be working with the Co-op and Starship Technologies to extend this initiative.”