National Park Wales

The Welsh Government has announced its intention to seek to designate a new National Park in Wales broadly based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area National Landscape (AONB). This would be the fourth National Park for Wales, and the first to be established in Wales since 1957.

This project supports the Welsh Government’s ambition to expand the national park network as part of its wider commitment to environmental protection, biodiversity recovery and climate resilience. Following a competitive tender, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) appointed a specialist team led by Gillespies to undertake a detailed evaluation of the area and deliver evidence-based recommendations on its suitability for designation.

Our multidisciplinary team of landscape planners and environmental specialists conducted an in-depth programme of analysis, combining desk studies, fieldwork and stakeholder engagement. The assessment considered landscape character, ecological value, cultural identity and recreational potential, alongside key policy drivers such as the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and sustainable management of natural resources.

We collaborated closely with Countryscape, providing expertise in mapping, ecology, and communications, and Fiona Fyfe Associates, specialists in historic and protected landscapes.

The creation of a new National Park in Wales is a significant opportunity to safeguard natural landscapes, strengthen biodiversity, support climate adaptation and promote sustainable recreation.

The park will be named after Owain Glyndŵr, the last native prince of Wales who lived in the early 1400s.  Glyndŵr’s historic home at Sycharth in Powys falls within the proposed park boundary.

The project is currently in its second round of consultation.