Back in February it was revealed that that the broadcaster, whose Diddly Squat farm has been made famous by the Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm, had lodged an appeal against the enforcement notice issued by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) last summer, which forced the restaurant to close little more than a month after it first opened.
Separately, he also challenged WODC's refusal of planning permission to extend Diddly Squat's farm shop car park.
The hearing for both appeals is understood to have been conducted by the planning inspector in March, and it has now been revealed that Clarkson has been granted permission to extend the carpark at the farm. However, he has not been given permission to open a restaurant.
As reported by the BBC, inspector RJ Perrins’ report said the council objected to Mr Clarkson adapting the land ‘to a mixed agricultural and leisure attraction use, comprising cafe, restaurant, gift/farm shop, parking and lavatory facilities’.
He added that the addition of signage, outdoor seating, a catering van, toilet block and restaurant would ‘effect upon the character and appearance’ of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Clarkson originally tried to get planning permission for a farm restaurant last year, but the initial proposals were thrown out by WODC. However, Clarkson proceeded with the project anyway, saying he had ‘found a loophole’ in the regulations.
The restaurant launched in July last year with Hicce chef Pip Lacey leading the kitchen, but was soon ordered to shut after WODC issued an enforcement notice saying the opening of the restaurant represented a ‘material change of use’.
The 40-cover Diddly Squat farm restaurant was housed within a small barn in the middle of a barley field, with the majority of its tables outside. The menu focused on beef from shorthorn cattle and included sticky beef croquettes with aioli and pickled chilli; and roasted topside of beef with vegetable.
