PLANS for a major new business park near Cardiff Airport could force out a family who have farmed the land for generations.

Model Farm, off Port Road, Rhoose, has been farmed by three generations of the Jenkins family ever since Griffith Jenkins first worked there in 1935.

His grandson Gethin Jenkins, 64, is now the tenant farmer and had hoped to pass it on to his 32-year-old son Rhys.

But the family’s dream could be over by the end of the year as landowner Legal and General has revealed plans for a new business park which would consume more than 100 acres of Model Farm’s land.

The financial services giant says the new business park would create 2,000 jobs and hopes to have planning permission approved before the end of 2019.

But Mr Jenkins says the family were only made aware of the plans to create a “concrete jungle” in the Welsh countryside at the end of May – and said they have been given no information about when they would have to leave, or if they would be compensated.

He said: “We fully expected there was going to be some sort of development.

"Progress happens, you can’t stand in the way of that.

"But to have 100 acres taken out in one hit – is there really demand for all this?

"Where is the demand coming from?

“They have not told us anything.

"These plans were given to me on May 31 this year.

"That’s the first we’ve heard of it.

“My grandfather moved here in 1935.

"My father carried on from him and I worked all my life with my father.

"I have a 32-year-old son now and I hoped he was going to carry it on.

"But if this goes ahead they will serve us a notice to quit.

“We’re the last people to know, yet it’s us that are being the most affected.”

The 111-acre Porth Busnes Parc Cymru development would have 1.7m sq ft of business space and warehouses for the aerospace and related industries.

Legal and General would also transfer 103 acres of land to the council to extend Porthkerry Country Park.

Mr Jenkins said: “I’m very concerned about the future of my son.

"The first thing we would have to do is find accommodation.

"Where is he going to live?

"What’s he going to be able to carry on with?

"Farming is in our blood.

“What the hell is his future?

"That’s what concerns me the most.

“It’s the uncertainty,” said Mr Jenkins. “It’s making life difficult for us because we don’t know what’s happening.

Rhys has a one-year-old daughter and said he is gutted about the plans.

“I’ve grown up and thought I would farm, it’s all I wanted to do,” Rhys said.

“It’s a kick in the teeth seeing my dad get upset. "He’s worked his whole life, as has his father and his father, to make the farm a success.

“I can’t help but feel sorry for them after all the effort they’ve put in over the years.”

The land had been allocated for development as part of an Enterprise Zone around the airport for a number of years, and potential uses for the site have been publicly consulted on since 2006, the company said.

A Legal and General spokeswoman said: “This important project will help Cardiff to strengthen its position as a gateway for business, tourism and leisure, while attracting world class talent and contributing towards the creation of local employment opportunities.

“Outline planning permission is currently being prepared and is the next stage in a careful and detailed process, where we are working closely with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cardiff and Vale College, and Cardiff Airport, among other stakeholders, in order to ensure the scheme best meets the needs of the local area.

“As part of this, careful consideration is being paid to the visual and environment impact of the development.

"This includes a proposed landscape buffering and tree planting programme, discussions to extend the country park and plans to enhance the habitat corridors which run through the site.

“While we do not have a fixed date for works to proceed, we are of course committed to working collaboratively with Mr Jenkins to help ensure a smooth transition so that his business is not unnecessarily disrupted.”