ROBO-TAXIS: Local authorities will hold power to BLOCK automated taxi and private hire vehicle permits
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Local authorities will hold the power to block the operation of driverless passenger services under the newly passed Automated Vehicles Act 2024.
The Government has confirmed that specified local authorities can withhold consent when operators apply for an Automated Passenger Services (APS) permit. The rule applies to services similar to taxis or private hire vehicles, where local licensing bodies must approve any permit covering their area.
Licensing authority responsibilities typically lie with lower-tier councils, unitary authorities, or Transport for London. These are the same bodies that currently handle taxi and private hire licensing.
For services that resemble bus operations within areas that have adopted franchising schemes, approval must come from the relevant franchising authority. However, if the automated service operates in areas outside of franchising schemes, no local consent is required.
Authorities who choose to withhold their consent must give written reasons within six weeks of receiving the permit request. This process aims to ensure local accountability in the rollout of autonomous passenger services.
Baroness Eaton Conservative asked the Government: “Whether, in implementing the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, they plan to give local authorities the right to withhold consent for an automated passenger services operator permit to be granted; and if so, which tier of local government will be responsible for providing consent.”
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), responded: “The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 provides the right for specified local authorities to withhold their consent for an automated passenger services (APS) operator permit to be granted. This right protects local decision-making.
“For services resembling taxies or private hire vehicles, section 85 outlines that an APS permit may not be granted without the consent of each licensing authority in whose areas the service may be provided under the permit. A “licensing authority” is where responsibility sits for the issuing of taxi or private hire licenses, and currently is typically a lower-tier authority, unitary authority or Transport for London.
“For services resembling buses where a bus franchising scheme exists, section 86 outlines that an APS permit may not be granted without the consent of each relevant franchising body. Where an automated passenger service is proposed to operate under an APS permit in an area which sits outside of a bus franchising scheme, the legislation does not require consent from local authorities.
“To withhold consent, the licensing or franchising authority must provide written reasons within six weeks of receiving a formal request, beginning with the day on which the request is made.”
