Jeremy Clarkson has warned that uncertainty over planning decisions is creating problems for his businesses, leaving hundreds of staff unsure about their futures. In a new column for The Times, the Clarkson's Farm star revealed that repeated attempts to secure permission for work at his pub have been met with silence from West Oxfordshire District Council.
Unanswered calls over pub car park work
Clarkson explained that he had been offered a large quantity of hardcore to create a firmer surface in the field used as a car park at his pub. He wanted to complete the work before winter, as the offer was only available for a limited time and heavy rain could turn the field into a muddy mess.
Despite repeatedly contacting the local authority, he said he had been unable to secure the necessary permission. He wrote: "We've rung. We've begged. We've pleaded. We've explained that if we don't do the work now we will lose the hardcore and, all winter, our customers will be dragging tons of mud onto the roads. And all we get back is silence."
Nearly 300 jobs at stake
The difficulties are not confined to the pub, with unanswered questions also surrounding the future of his farm shop. Clarkson noted that the uncertainty extends beyond his own ventures, affecting staff and other traders in the area.
"Nearly 300 people are employed by my various enterprises these days," he wrote. "And all of them want to know if their jobs are secure." He also pointed to the cafés, antique shops and guesthouses that depend on visitors attracted by Diddly Squat Farm, saying their owners are equally affected by the lack of clarity. "And all we can ever tell them is: 'We don't know.'"
Previous planning battles recalled
Clarkson's comments revive memories of his earlier planning disputes with West Oxfordshire District Council. In 2022, the authority took enforcement action against Diddly Squat Farm, ordering the closure of its café and restaurant over alleged breaches of planning rules. That dispute followed rejected applications for a restaurant and an expanded car park, which would have increased capacity from 10 spaces to 70.
In 2023, he received temporary permission for three years for a car park, with a later application seeking to extend that arrangement until 2030. Earlier this year, Oxfordshire County Council supported the proposed extension, citing expectations of continued demand. The final decision rests with West Oxfordshire District Council.
Clarkson acknowledged that proposals to overhaul the planning system were being developed, but insisted the current arrangements could not continue. "There are now plans to overhaul the entire planning system, which sounds great," he wrote. "But we can't allow the current system to go on. We can't allow so many ill-informed people to have the ability to stop projects."
