Jeremy Clarkson has been given the green light to expand his Diddly Squat Farm after a series of planning disputes. The 64 year old Top Gear presenter had expressed an “urgent need” for expansion in his latest planning application, proposing a new 36m-long (118ft) agricultural building for crop storage at his Oxfordshire site.
However, the journey hasn’t been smooth sailing for the TV star, who’s been tangled up in a lengthy dispute with West Oxfordshire District Council over the site. While his proposals for a 70-space car park and a restaurant were both turned down, the council’s planning committee have finally given him the thumbs up on his latest venture.
The approval letter states that the plans to develop Diddly Squat Farm “did not require prior approval” by the council as long as it is carried out in accordance with the submitted plans. It read: “Proposal for a new building described as an agricultural grain store planned to be 18 metres in length.
“The proposed building is necessary to support farming operations at Curdle Hill Farm to ensure a viable farm business and a more environmentally sustainable operation. It meets all criteria of the permitted development right in terms of position, dimensions and proposed use.”, reports the Express.
In his new application, the plans highlighted that the farm has an “urgent need for additional storage” and the lack of a barn was affecting produce prices.
“In simple terms, they can only take the price on offer when the crop is taken, rather than wait and sell when the price is favourable.”
The statement continued: “The current grain store is not of an appropriate design for its purpose and in any case is too small to support the farm’s arable operations which produces up to six different crops, with four main crop.”
The application also reassured that the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be preserved, stating “the applicant is eager to work sensitively within it”.
