Entrants to this competition must be:

• Established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs
• UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the defined challenge
• Benefit of implementation
• Feasibility/economic viability
• Innovative nature
• Ability to launch in line with expected timescales
• Credibility of applicant company
• Coherence of the proposed business model
• Development potential
• Maturity of the solution
• Suitability for the intended geographic market

This challenge aims to harness data from street works registers, local authority systems and the National Street Gazetteer to deliver a user‑friendly, pre and on journey planning tool that alerts users to temporary disruptions along their route and provides safe alternative options before they leave home and whilst on their journey. Solutions must account for varying levels of digital literacy, avoid reliance on additional hardware, and remain accessible using technology people already own, such as smart phones.

Solutions will offer a stress-free way for users to plan, navigate and complete journeys despite temporary obstacles.

The goal is to unlock barrier‑free travel, enabling greater independence, confidence, and inclusion for people navigating urban environments affected by essential works. Successful innovations will support a consistent, scalable approach that can be adopted across utilities and regions, strengthening accessibility across the UK’s streetscape.

Brief summary of requirements:

• Support pan‑disability accessibility while remaining beneficial for all users.
• Ensure people with vision impairments or restricted mobility are aware of roadworks and temporary obstacles affecting their pedestrian routes.
• Capture information relevant to pedestrian journeys such as pavement diversions, street worksand other temporary obstacles.
• Provide advance notification of obstacles before a user starts their journey.
• Provide notifications during the journey when relevant changes occur.
• WCAG‑compliant and built to recognised accessibility / usability standards.
• Cross‑platform compatible and able to operate across multiple operating systems.

Full functional, operating and technical details are available from the Innovation Exchange site.

Other modes of transport:

Solutions must not consider travel or obstacle management for public transport, taxis, private hire vehicles, or cars (beyond providing optional links to existing transport information). For example, where works restrict vehicle movement but leave the pavement open and accessible, this would not fall within the scope of the solution.

Vehicle navigation systems:

• The solution should not be reliant on vehicle-based navigation applications such as SatNav’s.
• Creation of new datasets for stakeholders:
• Proposals must not seek to build entirely new data systems for shareholders or authorities. The challenge focuses on using and integrating existing data sources.

Physical changes to street works or infrastructure:

• Solutions must not directly influence, modify, or determine the planning, design, or physical structure of street works.

Unrecorded or ad‑hoc obstacles:

• Temporary obstacles with no recorded data source (e.g. parked cars, fly‑tipping) are not required to be included.

Additional hardware requirements:

• Users must not be required to purchase or use any additional devices or hardware beyond standard, commonly available consumer technology.

The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:

• Support from Innovate UK Business Connect
• Support in the development of a prototype or pilot
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.