PM pledge to slash red tape could mean green light for Diddly Squat restaurant
18th May 2023
At the recent Farm to Fork Summit at No10 Downing Street, attended by Clarkson’s Farm stars Kaleb Cooper and ‘Cheerful’ Charlie Ireland, the Prime Minister set out ambitions to cut down red tape and make it easier for UK farmers to diversify their incomes, such as by converting farm buildings into shops or restaurants.
Following Jeremy Clarkson’s long-winded rows with the local council about opening a restaurant on his Diddly Squat Farm that led to repeated refusals, farmers across the UK voiced concerns about the barriers that stand in the way of earning much-needed income from diversification projects.
The issue made it onto the agenda of the inaugural Farm to Fork event this Tuesday (16th May), in response to which the government has set out plans suggesting farmers may not need permission from local councils to convert farm buildings in the future.
Alongside other announcements addressing the challenges of British agriculture, Rishi Sunak has pledged to give farmers greater freedoms to make the best use of their existing agricultural buildings by revamping national planning policy.
The move will involve a ‘review of planning barriers to farm diversification, including any necessary changes to permitted development later this year,’ the government announced at the summit.
‘The consultation will support rural growth through diversification by allowing farmers greater freedom in how they use their buildings. For example, subject to consultation, farmers will be free to convert their buildings to process foods to sell in farm shops, without a planning application to their local authority – allowing them to diversify their income streams.’
A promise was also made to launch a call for evidence to ascertain the best way to address barriers that farmers and land managers can face to delivering projects on their land.
When asked whether the new policy will also allow farmers to set up restaurants in repurposed farm buildings, Mr Sunak’s official spokesman is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: ‘Shops is an example, so what we’re announcing are plans to remove the barriers that farmers face when trying to diversify their businesses.
‘So, for example, they won’t face the kind of red tape they did previously when looking to change barns to farm shops or use them to process goods for sale.
‘Because, under the plans, they would no longer require local authority consent. It’s going to be consulted on later this year.’
The PM’s official spokesman also reportedly praised Clarkson’s efforts in raising some important issues farmers face in the UK and assured the policies set out at the summit will support British agriculture.
