The campaign group fighting to save a Vale of Glamorgan family farm from being concreted over and turned into an industrial park is calling upon the local authority and Welsh Government to "see sense" and halt the proposals.

The multinational financial giant, Legal & General, who own the land at Model Farm outside Rhoose, was given planning permission to develop the site last year. The Jenkins tenant farming family have lived and worked on the farm since 1935.

A protest ensued and a legal fight was launched to overturn the decision by the Vale of Glamorgan County Council.

The council accepted there had been “procedural irregularities” surrounding the disclosure of the viability of the site during the process to grant planning and quashed the application last autumn. 

Last month, the latest planning decision on the site was put on hold in order to give L&G time to review reports in their application that may need to be updated.

However, Vale Communities Unite (VCU) campaigners now fear the Vale council will try to "sneak" the application before the planning committee on the 21st of next month. Penarth Times: Maxine Levett and Suzanne Price from Vale Communities Unite protest outside Model Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan. Photo: Siriol GriffithsMaxine Levett and Suzanne Price from Vale Communities Unite protest outside Model Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan. Photo: Siriol Griffiths (Image: Siriol Griffiths)

Suzanne Price, a member of Vale Communities Unite, said: "The Vale Council say publicly they want to encourage community input. But they don't inform us about anything, they've witheld stuff from us, everything we write to them is pushed into a pile. They've ignored us. 

"Part of the reason they keep trying to rush and sneak this application through, we think, is because of the Welsh Agriculture Bill, which would offer farms like Model Farm protection from this sort of development."

Maxine Levett is a local resident and VCU member who last year launched the judicial review against the council's handling of the planning process. She said the group is waiting for the decision to be called in by the Welsh Government.

"We feel this planning decision expected from the council is something of a short cut," said Ms Levett. 

"So once it goes to the Welsh Government, they can then pass it back to the Vale to be rubber stamped because it's already been approved by the planning committee. 

"Of course, what needs to happen is for them to see sense and stop it once and for all. These plans have got blanket opposition locally for a multitude of reasons, not least the eviction of a working farming family and the fact that the plans by L&G have been labelled unviable by experts."

Penarth Times: The Jenkins family of Model FarmThe Jenkins family of Model Farm

One of the viability reports, conducted by independent experts Avison Young, and not made available to the public last year, stated: “We think it is unlikely that this level of demand exists in this location.

“We are of the opinion that the take-up rate proposed is unachievable as evidenced below.

“Competition from existing business parks and the recently launched Bro Tathan Development will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on take-up.”

Penarth Times: Members of the Vale of Glamorgan planning committee undergo a site visit of Model Farm in October 2022. Photo: Siriol GriffithsMembers of the Vale of Glamorgan planning committee undergo a site visit of Model Farm in October 2022. Photo: Siriol Griffiths (Image: Siriol Griffiths)

"We're in the middle of a climate and nature emergency," Robert Curtis from Barry Action for Nature told the Barry & District News

"Both the council and the Senedd have recognised those two things, which is why it can't be business as usual. We've got to change. The days of planning new industrial estates are over. 

"Building an industrial site on this green space is unacceptable. You've got Bro Tathan and the Aberthaw Power Station site nearby, lying unused. And many other industrial sites already in existence in the area need to be refurbished.

"They need investment and they're not getting it." 

Penarth Times: A wildflower meadow at Model FarmA wildflower meadow at Model Farm (Image: Kelly Jenkins)

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “The application is still subject to a Holding Direction from Welsh Government and this restricts the grant of permission until Welsh Government decides whether the application should be referred to the Welsh Ministers.

"Welsh Government has indicated that it is awaiting an updated report from the Council prior to making that decision. That means the application will be reported to Planning Committee following the production of an updated report by officers. Committee Members will be asked to consider its contents and whether they agree with Officer’s recommendation for approval.

"Should there be a resolution to approve the application from Members, the Council would await a decision from Welsh Government on whether it should be referred to Welsh Ministers.”

Penarth Times: Model Farm. Photo: Siriol GriffithsModel Farm. Photo: Siriol Griffiths (Image: Siriol Griffiths)

Earlier this year, South Wales Central MS, Andrew RT Davies wrote to Wales' Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, demanding the application be called in, while the local Plaid Cymru group also opposes the plans. 

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Welsh Government Ministers have received requests to call in an application for development at Model Farm, Port Road, Rhoose.

“We cannot comment further as to do so may prejudice any future decisions in relation to the proposal.”

The Barry & District News also approached Legal & General for comment. However, they supplied exactly the same statement as they gave the Local Democracy Reporting Service last month, which you can find here