The council leader said he is ‘pleased’ Jeremy Clarkson has been given permission to extend the car park at Diddly Squat Farm as he highlighted that it is temporary.

The former Top Gear presenter appealed against West Oxfordshire District Council’s rejection of plans to open a restaurant and build an extra car park at his farm in Chadlington.

A hearing was held by the Planning Inspectorate back in March.

READ MORE: Decision made on Jeremy Clarkson's planning appeal

In a decision issued yesterday (June 14) the Planning Inspectorate granted permission for the car park extension.

But the council’s rejection of the restaurant was upheld.

Planning permission for the car park has been granted for three years and a restoration of the site would need to be completed following that period.

The Oxford Mail contacted West Oxfordshire District Council for a statement after this decision was made.

Cllr Andy Graham, Leader of the Council, said, “We are grateful for the clarity that this decision gives us and we look forward to working with Mr Clarkson and the Diddly Squat Farm team for the benefit of the West Oxfordshire economy and residents.

“We offer constructive pre-application advice to all businesses and residents and will be happy to work with Diddly Squat on any future plans.

“Our door has always been open and will remain open.

“We are also pleased with the decision made by the Planning Inspector to grant a temporary car park at the site.

“We encouraged Diddly Squat Farm to make an application for a temporary car park last year and hopefully this solution will improve the parking issues we have seen in the area. 

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“There is no doubt that in many ways Diddly Squat Farm has had a really positive impact, both locally and nationally, but it needs to operate within planning law and policy to make sure the activities on the site are carried out in a way that limits the impact on the AONB, the environment and local area.

“This has been reinforced by the inspector’s decision.

“We support the diversification of farms and local producers and it was on this basis that we originally gave planning permission for the farm shop. 

“We have always been clear that we treat all businesses and individuals equally and fairly and Diddly Squat Farm is no different.” 

Back at the hearing in March, some residents raised concerns about the increased traffic that Diddly Squat Farm had brought to Chadlington.

One villager, Hillary Moore described the farm as a ‘total menace’ and a ‘danger’.

In his report, Mr Perrins accepted that the farm had been ‘a victim of its own success’ and that it was clear that the site as it currently stands could not cope with the increased parking demand.