Farmers blame ‘Clarkson effect’ for disputes
Seventy-five per cent say they too have fallen victim to a planning system that stifles economic growth
THE “Jeremy Clarkson effect” is hitting rural Britain, with three quarters of farmers saying they have abandoned plans to develop their business because of planning disputes.
The former Top Gear presenter has publicly criticised his local council, which was accused by fans of “pen pushing” after it rejected his plans to build a restaurant on Diddly Squat Farm, which features in his Amazon show Clarkson’s Farm.
New research from the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) has found that a majority of farmers have faced similar issues, with 93 per cent agreeing that the planning system is stifling economic growth in the countryside.
More than a third of farmers say they had already spent more than £20,000 on projects to develop their land before being forced to abandon them because of planning issues. Almost 20 per cent said they had spent £50,000 or more.
Mr Clarkson’s planning battle against West Oxfordshire District Council over the restaurant has been widely publicised, with a petition to “save Diddly Squat Farm from planning injustice” attracting 170,000 signatures online.
The council has accused the programme of a “misleading” portrayal of a local meeting where councillors overwhelmingly voted to reject the development. The CLA says the problem is rife in the countryside, with problems concentrated in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
Seventy per cent of farmers responding to the organisation’s survey who live in protected areas say they have farm buildings they hope to convert.
Will Mathias, 36, runs a plant nursery based near Farnham in the Surrey Hills AONB. His application to build a house and farm office on his land was rejected by Waverley Borough Council amid concerns it would “detrimentally affect the openness of the green belt”. He is appealing against the judgment.
“Counsellors get all the papers dumped in front of them, and they make almost a split-second decision,” Mr Mathias said. “None of them had seen the site or knew the situation or knew anything about our business.”
He added: “They decided they weren’t going to allow it because they don’t like to see any development happening in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and green belt.” Mr Mathias estimates that his appeal will take 18 months and cost £20,000, but is confident the new building will eventually be allowed.
The CLA has called for a comprehensive review of planning policy in the green belt to increase development of rural businesses. Mark Tufnell, the organisation’s president, said: “We can’t continue treating the countryside as a museum, something to be looked at, not touched. It’s a home to communities and businesses that need to grow after decades of economic neglect.
“We need a new system that supports sensible, small-scale developments. It doesn’t matter if you’re Jeremy Clarkson, or from a farming family, all deserve a genuine chance to thrive.”