A national park has been proposed to replace the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB in the north-east of Wales. Proposals for the then Clwydian Range AONB, established in 1985, to become a national park were first raised in 2010. In the 2021 Senedd election, Welsh Labour committed to establishing Wales' fourth national park in the north-east. Following Labour forming the next Welsh Government, the government commissioned Natural Resources Wales to develop proposals for the new national park.

The national park is hoped to be established before the next Senedd election in 2026, with further consultations to take place in 2024 and 2025.

In December 2023, Powys County Council rejected proposals for the national park to extend into Powys.

History

The Clwydian Range was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1985 by the Secretary of State for Wales Nicholas Edwards MP, under the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949, covering 158 km (61 sq mi) until its later extension. Its southern boundary was set to be much further north than originally proposed in 1947. Reasons for this decision remain unclear, although it has been said that it was chosen to mark the border between the Clwydian Range and the highlands sometimes regarded to be part of the Berwyn Range. This was due to local opposition to designations for the Berwyn Range, such as the then proposed Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), proposed during the AONBs consultation period. This potentially influenced the decision to exclude the Berwyn Range, and therefore the Dee Valley, from becoming part of the AONB in 1985.

On 22 November 2011, the AONB was to be extended southwards to include the Dee Valley, increasing the size of the AONB by 229 km (88 sq mi). The Ceiriog Valley was not added to the AONB, due to the valley's physical relationship with the Berwyn mountain range which crosses the local authority border into Powys, where an extension of the AONB is not supported. An artificial cut off point of the AONB at the Wrexham—Powys border was deemed illogical, so the southernmost boundary of the AONB was defined as the skyline of the Dee Valley (the southern summits of the highest peaks in the valley) instead.

Proposed national park

The campaign to make the then Clwydian Range AONB, a national park began in 2010, on the 25th anniversary of AONB status. Conservative AM for Clwyd West, Darren Millar called for National Park status, describing the area as a "national treasure" needing extra recognition for its unique biodiversity and archaeology, which would boost the local economy. On 16 February 2011, in an Assembly debate, Jane Davidson AM, then Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister for Wales, dismissed the proposal, stating that if it were to follow through, it would have to be applied to all other AONBs in Wales and that the area already benefits from tourism support. Criticism to the proposal followed at the time, touted as "out of touch" with the wishes of the rural community, potentially limiting rural business opportunities and taking power away from local authorities.

Support

Support spans from the two main sides of the political spectrum, with both Conservative and Labour Members of the Senedd supporting a redesignation. As part of the Welsh Government, Welsh Labour has taken steps to act on the proposed national park. Proponents for the redesignation argue that it would hand over greater environmental and planning protections to the area, and boost local tourism. Supporters say that national park status would bring huge potential to the area, as many tourists from nearby densely populated areas of Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and beyond, constantly pass through the AONB to Snowdonia, the other national park in north Wales, and a national park would "put North East Wales on the map", while also catering to those wanting a country rather than coastal visit. Supporters estimate the re-designation would bring in 1.5 million visitors annually, boosting the local economy, providing more opportunities for locals and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Opposition

Opposition to the proposal stems from concerns including; over-tourism, lack of infrastructure, park size, loss of local responsibility, additional planning restrictions and costs related to national park status. With the proposals described as "a bonkers idea", by a local councillor. Other critics contemplate the size of the AONB as being too small, if redesignated it will be the smallest national park in Wales at 150 sq mi (390 km) compared to the current smallest in Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast at 243 sq mi (630 km). Other concerns include the overuse of "national park" over fears it will dilute the attractiveness of existing ones, the proximity to the border (said to lead to shorter day-trips than longer overnight stays) and the increased presence of the Welsh Government in the management of the area (over the local authorities) as the new status involves new funding from the government to the area. The proposal has been described as a "betrayal" by an FUW local officer, stating that the earlier plan to expand the AONB to the Dee Valley was followed through despite a majority of the union opposing the plan, and as a last-minute compromise it was promised that "the area would not become a national park". A local councillor argued that redesignation may increase the risk of mountain fires (such as the 2018 Llantysilio Mountain fire), through cutting back hill farming (such as sheep grazing), leading to an increase in unmanaged vegetation. Concerns over second (holiday) homes were raised, with the already present crisis in Gwynedd, where holiday homes account for 11% of the entire county's homes being shown as a warning. The concerns were raised by former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron, who warned that national park status would potentially replicate the crisis already in Gwynedd to north-east Wales, and lead the area to be treated like a "playground" for the well-off; he also drew parallels with the effects felt on villages in 2016 that was made part of an extended Yorkshire Dales National Park in England. Additional concerns were raised over increased visitor numbers as a result of national park status, which would increase local prices and impact on the fabric of the rural Welsh-speaking communities. Concerns were also raised that a fourth national park would reduce the funding to the existing three, and what happens to existing farmland.

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats have not expressed clear support for a new national park, with their parties' councillors in Powys, clearly stating their opposition in December 2023.

Recent history

The Welsh Government was criticised in October 2021, when it was revealed no consultations had taken place between farmers and the Welsh Government concerning the proposal. The Welsh Government responded to concerns over new planning restrictions potentially impacting the housing shortage in Wales, hampering local social housing projects. Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, stated: "There are a number of steps we are already taking across Wales to mitigate [social housing] issues".

In their manifesto for the 2021 Senedd election, Welsh Labour and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, pledged for the establishment of a new national park in Wales. If followed through, the newly designated area would become Wales' fourth national park and the newest one since 1957, although additionally being the smallest. Upon their re-election, the new administration stated that they are in the process of fulfilling this pledge, although no dates were given, however, they stated that announcements would be made in "due course", and that the redesignation is a "multi-year" project. In its 2021–2026 Programme for Government, the Welsh Government committed in its intention to designate a new national park in north-east Wales.

Consultation process

In June 2023, the Welsh Government commissioned Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to investigate a potential designation of the area into a national park, involving data and evidence gathering and meeting with local communities, with a decision expected by 2026. While the proposed national park is centred on the AONB, the boundaries of the national park may not be the same as the current AONB, with the exact boundaries being under discussion. From October to November 2023, NRW held seven engagement events (including one online), as part of its engagement period from 9 October 2023 to 27 November 2023. The consulation process is funded by the Welsh Government at a cost of £700,000 annually. The government hopes to make a decision before the next Senedd election scheduled for 2026. NRW announced they hope to hold two further consulations in autumn 2024 and 2025, as the boundaries of the park become more refined.

In February 2024, it was announced that NRW was looking for consultants to do a in-depth assessment of the proposed areas for inclusion.

Rejection by Powys

On 10 December 2023, Powys County Council rejected plans for the new national park to extend into Powys. Opposition largely stemmed from Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru councillors who stated that the benefits of a new national park were not clearly stated by the government, and that an additional national park authority would put pressure on public finances, especially as funding for existing national park authorities were stated to have also decreased. A councillor expressed doubt that national park status would improve biodiversity or transport issues. A Conservative councillor stated there could be some benefits but all sides need to be looked at, especially any impact it would have on rural areas. In a meeting, where Plaid Cymru tabled a motion opposing the new national park, 34 councillors voted in favour of the motion which called for opposing the national park, four were against stating opposition to the park, while 16 abstained.

Debates in Denbighshire

In February 2024, it was proposed a move by a local councillor should be put to Denbighshire County Council calling to suspend talks over the new national park. This was due to concerns on the potential cost of £1 billion for the new national park among the councils, with Denbighshire council already having financial difficulties. As part of the consultation period it was announced that 25% of the maintenance cost of the new national park would be funded by the councils, with the rest funded by the Welsh Government, estimating a £1 billion cost to be put on councils.

Designation

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the authority that can statutory designate national parks in Wales. In order to evaluate whether there is a case for a new national park, NRW would host local consultations with communities and local authorities, check how suitable an area is to meet the legal definition of a national park, determine its boundaries, and finally make the recommendation on whether to establish a new national park to Welsh Ministers. The final decision on whether to designate a national park would be the responsibility of the Minister for Rural Affairs.

Area under consideration

To be considered to be part of the national park, NRW would have to assess whether an area is significant and "picturesque enough" in the national context requiring national park status. This criterion is not solely based on picturesque natural visuals as it is "a wide-ranging concept" but would also involve wildness, tranquillity, heritage and culture.

On 10 October 2023, NRW released an "area of search" map, a draft of the areas they are considering to include within the boundaries of a national park, replacing the existing AONB covering parts of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. The draft area is proposed to possibly extend from the AONB southwards, across the Berwyn range (to Llandrillo) in Denbighshire, and the Ceiriog Valley in Wrexham, and into north Powys (specifically north Montgomeryshire). In Powys, the area considered is as far south as Llanfair Caereinion, covering the Tanat, Vyrnwy (therefore Lake Vyrnwy), Banwy valleys, and westwards to reach Mallwyd, in Gwynedd and Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park. This would possibly create a "U-shaped" protected area across North Wales. Smaller extentions around the existing AONB are also to be considered, such as Halkyn Mountain, between Holywell and Northop, Flintshire, around Hope Mountain and Caergwrle, and into the Vale of Clwyd. The area under consideration would be three times larger than the existing AONB, and would possibly span four principal areas (local authority areas), the existing Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, as part of the existing AONB but the possible addition of Powys as a fourth. The draft map, however, is not the final boundaries of the park, but the maximum area to consider, with it expected to be further refined as the consultation process progresses. Some areas may not meet NRW's criteria on what should be within a national park, therefore possibly excluded in further refined proposals.

Following the release of the Area of Search draft map in October 2023, residents in the neighbouring upper Dee Valley (between Bala and Corwen) and the Denbigh Moors (Mynydd Hiraethog) were questioning as to why they were not included in the proposed maximum boundaries. Some residents speculated that they were excluded to allow the development of wind farms in their area. NRW responded by stating that the Denbigh Moors was more associated with North West Wales and would lack "land continuity" with the rest of the proposed park, while the upper Dee Valley's mapped land value was considered "moderate", lower than NRW's criteria for inclusion in the new national park. NRW said, however, that they would consider any evidence presented that called for the areas to be included or excluded. A Flintshire County Councillor proposed all of North Wales become a national park.

In December 2023, Powys County Council rejected a national park to be within its boundaries.

Developments

To establish the national park, a national park authority for the park would be set up. However, the final role of such an authority has not been fully decided, in particular planning responsibility, and whether the authority would take control of all planning applications within the boundaries of the national park or whether local authorities would still hold some say. However, a Denbighshire County Councillor stated that, as he understands it, the North East Wales national park would not have a planning function. How to fund the national park would also need to be decided, with the current parks receiving 75% of their funding from the Welsh Government, ranging from £3–4 million annually. A council levy also contributes over £1 million to the parks, although the Welsh Government pays back money to the councils. The Welsh Government stated in October 2023 that it was too early to discuss the national park's possible functions and funding.