Wales’s New National Park Proposal

Overview

Last updated on the 16 January 2026.

Visit Cynnig Parc Cenedlaethol Newydd Cymru to view this page in Welsh.

Latest updates: January 2026

• Notification Period is now live. To find out more and how to respond, visit Notification Period 2026 - Natural Resources Wales Citizen Space - Citizen Space 

• On Monday 12 Janauary 2026, the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Board decided to make the Designation Order. To find out more, visit Natural Resources Wales / NRW Public Board meeting 12 January 2026

• Release of the analysis summary document on the 12-week consultation on the proposed Glyndŵr National Park. Full report to follow in February 2026. To read the analysis summary document follow the link above. For further information on the Statutory Consultation 2025, visit Proposed Glyndŵr National Park (Designation) Order - Statutory Consultation 2025

Background to the proposal

In its Programme for Government (2021-2026), Welsh Government set out its commitment to designate a new National Park for Wales. NRW is Welsh Government’s statutory advisor on landscape and the designating authority for any new National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Welsh Government commissioned NRW to evaluate the case for a new National Park based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

NRW is an independent organisation and will make an independent recommendation based on the evidence gathered and implications for the citizens of Wales. The statutory process and tests will be applied.

Over the last two years, NRW has been evaluating the case for a new National Park in Wales. Work has included undertaking data and evidence gathering, consultation and engagement with local communities and other stakeholders.

NRW’s Procedural guidance: GN010 has informed the assessment procedure.

Please see the Procedural Guidance document for full details.

Public Engagement Period 2023

We ran a 7-week public engagement period in 2023 which consisted of online and drop-in events for the public and targeted stakeholders. This was intended to build understanding of local issues, and involved sharing the initial Area of Search Map. There were 966 questionnaire responses, and a narrow majority of respondents were in favour of a new National Park.

The most frequently mentioned themes identified from analysis were:

1. Landscape conservation, Recognition for the area, Tranquillity.
2. Wildlife, Agriculture and Land management, Environment and Sustainability.
3. Tourism, Public services, and Infrastructure.
4. Necessity for change, Management and Controls, Costs, Funding, Bureaucracy.
5. Local people and communities, Local economy.
6. Access issues and Outdoor recreation.
7. Housing.
8. Culture and Heritage.
9. Planning implications.
10. Boundary queries.
11. A need for more information.

As a result of stakeholder feedback, a number of areas were added for further assessment to inform the Candidate Area for public consultation in 2024.

Please see the Public Engagement Period October – November 2023 webpage and Public Engagement Period Report 2023 for full details.

Public Consultation 2024

We ran a 10-week public consultation in 2024, on the Candidate Area and received 1,960 responses. There was strong recognition of the qualifying criteria for a National Park although this did not always translate into support for designation. There was an approximate 10% majority of respondents in favour of a new National Park.

Key issues were broadly similar to those identified in 2023. Feedback informed much of the following assessments and triggered a review of the evidence relating to the boundary.

Please see the Public Consultation October – December 2024 webpage and the Public Consultation Report 2024 for full details.

Statutory Consultation 2025

To find out more information about the Statutory Consultation in 2025, go to the Proposed Glyndŵr National Park (Designation) Order - Statutory Consultation 2025 webpage.