Residents of Chipping Norton have lamented that their once-quiet town has been ‘ruined’ by ‘ridiculous overdevelopment’, attributing the change to an influx of celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson and David Beckham. The picturesque Cotswolds location, popularised by famous names including David Cameron, Jamie Oliver and Kate Moss, is now swarming with tourists.
Yet, the charming rural lifestyle showcased on “Clarkson’s Farm” is inadvertently fuelling a housing demand, adding pressure to the local infrastructure and public services. Opposition is mounting among locals over plans for 350 new homes near Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, as patience wears thin with the town’s changing landscape. Long-standing residents feel the reality of Chipping Norton falls short of its glamorous image, despite the allure it may hold for some newcomers.
Those drawn to the area by the show’s depiction are finding themselves disillusioned, with complaints of boredom, as one resident confesses, “there is literally nothing to do”. Born-and-bred Chipping Norton twins Jane Hancox and Clare Webb view the proposed building frenzy as a consequence of the town’s elevated profile. At 49, cleaning duo Ms Webb said: “I think Clarkson is good in the way he’s bringing money in but the thing is, the prices are going up.” She pointed out a critical shortfall: “There isn’t the infrastructure to cope with all the new people coming.”
At 49, Ms Hancox is fed up, lamenting: “We have had new houses built up the road from us and all we smell is sewage because the sewers can’t take it.” She’s seen a decline in her living conditions: “It has got worse over the years with all the houses and people coming through. The roads are not big enough, it has got ridiculous. The traffic is a nightmare. We can’t even get to the doctors.”
Ms Hancox spoke about the surge in costs: “I’ve met people who have come up from London and said it’s more expensive here than there.” She highlighted the issues with local housing policy: “In our village, the affordable houses were meant to be for people from the village but most have gone to strangers.”
A controversial plan threatens Chipping Norton’s scenic fields next to its historic cricket club, with a proposal to construct hundreds of homes. Rainier Developments has taken preliminary action, providing West Oxfordshire District Council with a scoping report ahead of their ambitious application for up to 350 houses.
The contentious site already has company: a newly sanctioned development promises about 90 dwellings plus essential amenities, greenlit by the council in 2023. Residents’ dismay grows following recent approval of another large-scale development near Chipping Norton by Gleeson Land, defying over 100 submitted objections including worries over increased traffic, strains on infrastructure, and loss of valuable farmland.
Local bricklayer Scott Sumners, aged 56, bemoaned the impact high-profile residents like Jeremy Clarkson are having on the authentic vibe of Chipping Norton. He remarked: “We didn’t have any troubles 20 years ago. There’s still a lot of nice people but there’s so many tourists. It can get a bit rowdy out here on a Saturday night.
“I was walking my dog across the road one day and I overheard a couple say they had travelled from Scotland to come and see the town. There’s nothing here.” Mr Summers recalled encountering Clarkson at the local petrol station, where an interaction with a fellow local went south: “A man went up to him and said ‘hello Jeremy’, but he just replied ‘That’s Mr Clarkson to you’. I didn’t like that. There’s no need to be rude.”
Bianca, who lives near the controversial Rainier project, confessed her admiration for Jeremy Clarkson prompted her move to Chipping Norton following his hit show, Clarkson’s Farm. She disclosed: “I moved here because of Jeremy but I’m probably going back to London. There’s literally nothing here. I feel like I probably didn’t do enough research. I probably should have stayed here in a hotel for a week first to see what it was like.”
Visitors to the town also voiced their disappointment over the lack of attractions and activities. One such tourist, Andy Goodyer, visiting from South Derbyshire, was unimpressed: “It’s rubbish here – we prefer the Peak District!”. Andy Goodyer, a 57 year old recycling business owner, noted: “There’s millions of tourists coming in but it’s not because of Jeremy. I think he’s supporting farming in general. I’m sure it’s bringing good economics to the area.”
David Smart, 76, a visitor to Chipping Norton, expressed his disappointment with the local attractions. The retired postman from Northamptonshire shared: “We were going to go and see the farm and the pub but apparently you can’t go in.” He added wryly: “I saw the farm is called Diddly Squat. That about sums it up.”