Wales’s New National Park Proposal

Overview

Last updated on 6 February 2025.

To view the page in Welsh, please click here.

In its Programme for Government (2021-2026), Welsh Government sets out its intention to designate a new National Park in Wales based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or AONB (Now known as a ‘National Landscape’). If established, it would be the fourth National Park in Wales, and the first since 1957.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the Welsh Government’s statutory adviser on landscape and natural beauty and the designating authority for any new National Parks and National Landscapes. Welsh Government has commissioned NRW to evaluate the case for the proposed new National Park.

NRW is independent and will make an evidence-based recommendation for the benefit of the people of Wales, accounting for all relevant legislation. We have prepared procedural guidance setting out the statutory process that must be followed. It is evidence led and allows for engagement with all stakeholders.

The process will reflect the Welsh legislative and policy framework through the application of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) principles with a focus on nature recovery and climate adaptation and mitigation. 

The assessment procedure will decide if the evidence demonstrates that the statutory criteria relating to natural beauty and opportunities for open-air recreation are met, and if the area is of sufficient national significance that National Park purposes should apply. The procedure will also allow for consultation and ensure opportunity to adjust the proposals such that benefits are maximised and potential disbenefits can be avoided.

On completion of the assessment procedure, If NRW considers that Designation is desirable for the people of Wales, (both current and future generations), then a Designation order will be submitted to Welsh Government. Welsh Government will consider this and decide to either confirm, refuse, or vary the Designation Order. If confirmed, a new National Park will be created.

The assessment will take place within the existing Senedd term (2021-2026). 

Further details can be found in the infographic below.

Get involved

We ran a 10-week public consultation period on the proposal for a new National Park in Wales from the 7 October to the 16 December 2024. Head over to Wales's New National Park Proposal - Public Consultation 2024 page to find out more.

A study area (referred to as the Area of Search), based on the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley 'National Landscape' was identified and shared during a public engagement period in late 2023. Following this, and a period of evidence gathering, we consulted the public on the emerging proposal throughout the autumn and winter months of 2024.

The public consultation events were an opportunity to learn more about the project and evidence gathered to date, ask questions of the team and share feedback on the draft boundary map referred to as the Candidate Area Map.

Ash Pearce, Programme Manager said:

“While we have a statutory procedure to follow, we want to ensure that this is an inclusive process and that people have the opportunity to share their views on the proposals.

“Early engagement has given us a much clearer picture of the issues, hopes and concerns of the local people and stakeholders. We have identified eleven themes that underline both risks and opportunities for the area. These reflect concerns about over tourism and the impact on housing, but also the hopes for better management, responsible access, conservation and nature’s recovery.

“If a new National Park is established, then it must be able to manage the risks and take advantage of the opportunities available, for the betterment of nature, people, and communities.”

“We have amended the study area in response to local feedback and in the past year, appointed three separate independent consultants to help us develop the evidence that will inform our recommendation. As a result of this work, we now have Candidate Area map that we want to share with the public. We encourage anyone interested, to attend one of the events listed below and complete our questionnaire after viewing the summary of the evidence.”

People were encouraged to either drop by at an in-person event or email the project team at designated.landscapes.programme@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk to sign up to an online event. People only needed to attend one event as the information shared was the same for each.

The dates, times, and location of these events can be found in the table below.

Public Consultation Events 2024:

Public drop-in events

Public online events

Targeted group events

What you told us during the 2023 engagement period:

In October and November 2023, we held an early engagement period to share the study area and listen to your views. The engagement period was publicised through our webpage, social media outlets plus local print and national news coverage on both the ITV and BBC evening news programmes.

We were delighted to speak to over seven hundred people (619 in person and 105 online). We also received 966 questionnaire responses. We have carefully gone through the responses and a summary report is available below.

What else have we been doing?

In parallel with and informed by the feedback we received; the statutory assessment procedure has continued. Two advisory groups have now been established and are meeting regularly. We are pleased that all five of the potentially affected Local Authorities are participating in the advisory groups.

• Technical Advisory Group - Meeting every two months to discuss evidence and practical issues with relevant officers.
• Management Advisory Group - Meeting quarterly for updates and to discuss strategic considerations with senior representatives.

We have completed a series of studies with the assistance of specialist landscape consultants. Firstly, Craggattak Consulting evaluated and identified the special qualities within the study area that a new National Park would have a responsibility to conserve, protect and enhance.

Then, Land Use Consultants (LUC) Limited assessed the ‘Forces for Change’ (the existing dynamic influences that affect the special qualities). LUC then also competed an assessment of the Management Options, which compared how well different options could manage these forces to achieve the best outcomes.

The options considered included:

• No change.
• A National Landscape (AONB) conservation board over a larger area.
• Alternative models such as the Valleys and South Pennines Regional parks
• A National Park

Finally, the landscape consultant Gillespie’s LLP was commissioned to complete an impartial and detailed landscape evaluation of the study area. This work will clarify if a suitable area of land meets the statutory requirements for designation as a National Park or National Landscape. It will also provide a proposed boundary.  We are also working with Welsh Government to resolve questions raised by stakeholders and gain clarity on the funding arrangements that would apply to a designation.

Contact us.

We will post new information here and email notification of updates to all those on our mailing list. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, or if you need to contact one of the team, then please email us at:

designated.landscapes.programme@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk