A national park has been proposed to replace the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB in the north-east of Wales.

In the 2021 Senedd election, Welsh Labour committed to establishing Wales' fourth national park in the north-east.

The Welsh Government hopes the national park can be established before the next Senedd election in 2026, with further consultations taking place in 2024 and 2025.

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 km2 (61 sq mi) until its later extension.

[19] 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.

Proponents for the redesignation argue that it would hand over greater environmental and planning protections to the area, and boost local tourism.

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 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 which in 2016 were made part of an extended Yorkshire Dales National Park in England.

[38] In October 2024, Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru MS for North Wales, raised three concerns still needing to be addressed in the proposal.

Them being; clarification on funding, discussing potential local impacts, and ensuring communities back the proposal before it is imposed on them.

A councillor expressed doubt that national park status would improve biodiversity or transport issues.

[38][40][41] 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.

[42] Although The Guardian in November 2024, reported that Powys may have to make £50 million worth of cuts over four years to provide funding for the national park.

Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, stated: "There are a number of steps we are already taking across Wales to mitigate [social housing] issues".

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.

[48][50] 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.

[24][49][51][52] 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.

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.

They are Halkyn Mountain, areas in Powys, north of Hope Mountain, Clywedog Valley, Park in the Past (near Hope, Flintshire), Caer Estyn hillfort, Mynydd Mynyllod and the Dee Valley at Llandrillo, Bryn Gwyn Hall and Rhug Estate.

The areas to not be included were: Denbigh Moors, Llyn Brenig and Clocaenog Forest, the Vale of Clwyd, Pantasaph, Wepre Park, Nerquis Hall and Wynnstay Hall, Ruthin, Cambrian Mountains and Plynlimon (Pumlumon), Powis Castle, and the River Dee's water catchment area.

Some common topics included questions on outdoor recreation, renewable energy, culture, communities, tourism and infrastructure, land management, recognition, and funding for the park, as well as queries on the initial proposed boundaries.

[24] However, a Denbighshire County Councillor stated that, as he understands it, the North East Wales national park would not have a planning function.

[24] The Welsh Government stated in October 2023 that it was too early to discuss the national park's possible functions and funding.