The new Battle of Bosworth

IT was a defining moment in English history – the 1485 Battle of Bosworth was the turning point of the Wars of the Roses in which Richard III famously became the last English king to die in combat.

But today councillors may allow part of the unspoilt Bosworth Field site to be tarmacked over for a test track for driverless cars.

Officers at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have recommended the proposal by Japanese-owned Horiba Mira Ltd to build a £26million high-speed track be given the go-ahead.

In a report to the planning committee meeting, they conclude the impact on the battlefield would be ‘less than substantial’ and, with 1,800 jobs set to be created, the ‘benefits outweigh the harm’.

the track would be built on 83 acres of land next to Horiba Mira’s existing vehicle test centre at Higham on the Hill, near Hinckley, Leicestershire.

the area is part of Historic England’s registered battle zone. Dr Andy Hammon, its inspector of monuments, has told the council ‘the structure ‘would cause some harm to the significance of the battlefield due to its visual intrusion... and therefore people’s ability to appreciate the battle’.

However, the test track is seen as a vital step in the development of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) in the UK.

Speaking last year, Dr Geoff Davis, chief strategy officer at Horiba Mira, said: ‘the new facility will bring a unique testing capability to the UK, allowing us to increase the level of activity required to develop CAVs to ensure they are safe and secure for real-world environments.’