Jeremy Clarkson has lifted the lid on whether his Diddly Squat Farm restaurant will reopen following the introduction of the so-called 'Clarkson's clause' to help farmers across the UK.
Season three of Clarkson's Farm saw Jeremy and his team provide yet another superb outing on the 1,000-acre Cotswold plot, with it scoring a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics and audiences alike.
Released on to Amazon Prime Video, it followed Clarkson as he looked at ways to diversify the farm's income during a cost of living crisis made all the worse by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sky-high fuel prices.
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It also gave us the sad news about Gerald Cooper being diagnosed with cancer, as well as tragedy unfolding with Jeremy's adventure in to rearing pigs.
One of the biggest twists in the eight episodes was the outcome of Clarkson's battle with West Oxfordshire District Council, who shut down his farm restaurant between the filming of season two and three.
They said the business venture was not permitted, giving Clarkson six demands he had to abide by. The former Top Gear man took the issue to the national planning inspectorate, alongside plans for a car park next to the farm shop.
Clarkson lost the battle for the restaurant but planning inspector said the car park could be built along with toilet facilities, while also cementing the future of the farm shop and allowing a cafe to open on site.
The feud between the TV presenter and his local authority spurred on a new law dubbed the 'Clarkson clause' to improve the rights of farmers across the country when it comes to diversifying their income streams.
Made into law this week, farmers can now convert existing buildings on their property in to homes and even shops without the need for planning permission.
Mark Spencer, the farming minister, said: "I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land, without needless bureaucracy holding them back.
"Helping farmers secure their businesses and get on with the important job of producing food is our top priority."
The outcome got everybody asking the same question: Will the Diddly Squat Farm restaurant make a comeback?
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one user asked Clarkson: "So if the 'Clarkson's clause' has now come in to effect, does that mean that Jeremy Clarkson can reopen the restaurant?"
Clarkson himself got involved in the chat. But it's not good news.
He posted: "Annoyingly, we can't."
The planning inspector denied the restaurant in 2023, saying the development had 'resulted in harm' to the local area.
It was rejected in order to 'protect the intrinsic character of the area and landscape; to conserve the natural beauty, scenic beauty and landscape of the AONB [Area Of Natural Beauty]'.
An AONB is given something called 'Designated Rural Area” in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that all local councils have to follow.
This gives extra protection from development, with increase emphasis given to conserving and enhancing the landscape and scenic beauty.
So while the 'Clarkson's clause' will benefit countless developments across the UK, it sits within existing framework to protect the environment as we know it.
Clarkson's Farm will return in 2025 with season four on Amazon Prime Video.
Topics: Jeremy Clarkson, Clarkson's Farm, Politics, UK News, Amazon, Amazon Prime, TV and Film, TV, Documentaries
Tom Earnshaw