Glyndŵr National Park proposal moves to Welsh Government review
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has agreed to make the Glyndŵr National Park Designation Order, marking a key step towards creating Wales’ first new national park in nearly seven decades.
The decision was made by the NRW Board on Monday 12 January 2026, following a review of evidence and feedback from the 2025 statutory consultation.
The Welsh Government will now consider the proposal, based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, after a Public Notice period running from 16 January to 15 February 2026.
During this period, members of the public will be able to formally respond to the proposed designation. All evidence and representations will then be submitted to the Welsh Government before ministers make a final decision.
NRW’s assessment examined whether the proposed area met the statutory tests for national park status, including natural beauty, geographical features, and opportunities for open-air recreation. The work also involved defining boundaries and reviewing how the park would be managed.
Neil Sachdev, Chair of Natural Resources Wales, said:
“We have assessed the evidence and opinions as part of the consultation and applied statutory tests relating to natural beauty and geographical features of the area and opportunities for more sustainable tourism. Our Board was satisfied that the proposed Glyndŵr National Park, and its boundary, meet the statutory requirement for designation.
“We recognise the range of feedback expressed to date and want to reassure communities that all representations, including support and objections, together with evidence, will be provided to the Welsh Government at the end of the Public Notice period to assist with their final decision.”
The proposed national park would cover parts of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Powys, based around the Clwydian Range, Dee Valley and adjoining upland and coastal areas.
However, Flintshire County Council has raised a series of concerns about the potential economic, housing and governance impacts of the proposal.
In its draft response, the council said it was unclear how the park’s creation and long-term running costs would be funded, and warned that it could lead to higher housing prices, reduced development space, and additional bureaucratic pressure on local authorities.
A spokesperson for the council said:
“The council acknowledges the positive aspects that such a designation may bring to the area in terms of the protection and enhancement of the natural environment plus the increased opportunities which may arise for the tourism sector. However, at this stage and on the basis of the information available at present, we cannot support the proposals.”
The council’s Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee also expressed concern that the creation of a new park authority would add costs and complexity, while limiting growth opportunities in areas within the park boundary.
Flintshire’s submission argues that the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape already provides effective protection for the area, and suggests that extending this designation to unprotected areas in Wrexham and Powys could achieve similar results without creating a new public body.
Following previous consultation rounds, NRW made several changes to the proposed boundaries, including reinstating the Gronant and Talacre Dunes area, refining the focus on upland and coastal landscapes, and removing sections of settled lowlands in Powys.
Despite these adjustments, concerns remain among Flintshire councillors and residents over the potential costs, planning restrictions and cultural impacts, including the effect on Welsh-speaking communities.
The Welsh Government will make the final decision on the proposal once the public notice period closes and all evidence and consultation responses have been considered.
If approved, the Glyndŵr National Park would become Wales’ fourth national park and the first to be designated since the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) in 1957.
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