North East Wales National Park Designation

The Welsh Government has commissioned Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to evaluate the case for a new National Park in North East Wales based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Updated on 11 September 2023

NRW has established a team to lead this work which will include data and evidence gathering, and engagement with local communities and other key stakeholders.

The Project Manager, Ash Pearce said:

“NRW is the Designating Authority in Wales and must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to designate a new National Park.

There is a statutory process to follow which was last completed in the 1950’s and took around a decade. This time we also need to take account of new information and new legislation, so we are incorporating principles of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) into the procedure. With Welsh Government funding, a strong team and new technology, we aim to complete the process within the existing Senedd term (by 2026).

The timeline is challenging, but we are also not prepared to compromise on providing robust evidence. There will be stakeholder engagement and a public consultation to ensure that we get the best result for the people of Wales.

Once this is done, and if the evidence supports a designation, then a Designation Order will be submitted to the Welsh Government.  Ministers will need to consider this and decide whether to confirm, refuse or vary the Order. If it’s confirmed in 2026, the Welsh Government will then establish Wales’s fourth National Park and the first in Wales for nearly 70 years!”.

NRW have announced the dates of a series of online and in-person engagement events in October and November 2023 where people can have their say on an initial Area of Search map for a proposed new National Park in North East Wales. To find out more, please visit the project information page