Jeremy Clarkson, the well-known television personality and star of the Prime Video series Clarkson’s Farm, has won a significant planning dispute concerning his Burford pub, The Farmer’s Dog, after more than a year-long wait for approval. This development is welcomed by fans who flock to the popular venue.
Clarkson had applied for permission to install hard surfacing on both car parks at The Farmer’s Dog, located in Burford, Oxfordshire. Earlier this month, West Oxfordshire District Council granted approval, resolving the extended uncertainty surrounding the application.
The Oxford Mail reported that planning officer Kelly Murray commented on the challenges posed by the volume of visitors to the venue. She explained that the high number of patrons has led to congestion along the nearby A40 and within the village of Asthall.
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Despite these concerns, Murray emphasized that because the pub and restaurant have an established lawful use, the local planning authority could not restrict the public interest generated by the establishment. Instead, she highlighted the necessity of providing safe and accessible off-road parking to prevent unsafe roadside parking and safeguard pedestrian safety, reduce congestion, and protect the rural character of the area.
Murray also referenced Clarkson’s other business, the Diddly Squat Farm shop, which attracts substantial visitor numbers and has suffered from roadside verge damage due to inadequate parking facilities.
Concluding the determination, the council stated that the public interest in enhancing parking provision outweighed any minor harm from the expansion, allowing the hard surfacing project to proceed.
Clarkson purchased the pub—formerly known as The Windmill—in the summer of 2024, documenting his swift efforts to launch the venue on his Amazon Prime series, Clarkson’s Farm, which continues to attract a devoted audience.