News

Bosworth - plans to build a solar array adjacent to the battlefield

13 December 2019

The Battlefields Trust is aware of the proposed development of a solar array adjacent to the eastern side of the nationally important registered battlefield at Bosworth (Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council planning application 19/01256/FUL). 

The Trust has responded to the planning application, which affects the setting of the battlefield but has no direct physical impact on the registered battlefield area. 

In responding to the application, the Trust has argued for archaeological field work in advance of any planning agreement.  The aim of this would be to identify battle related material on the proposed development area and to investigate a possible Roman road which runs through the site that may have been used by Yorkist forces. 

Both these archaeological aspects have been identified by the developer’s Heritage Impact Assessment and, without further investigation, it seems to the Trust that the Council will not be able to discharge its responsibility under existing planning rules to make a judgement on whether the benefit of the development outweighs the damage it will cause to the heritage.

If planning permission is to be granted, the Trust supports the recommendation contained within the developer’s Heritage Impact Assessment for increased screening of the site to protect views from the registered battlefield area and its wider setting.  It has also asked that a buffer zone be established on the parts of the proposed development area which adjoin the registered battlefield in order to reduce the impact on the its rural character.