Picturesque Wirral village Port Sunlight is to undergo a multi-million pound transformation including a £1.5m project to improve the thermal efficiency of hundreds of homes. Tony McDonough reports

A trust that oversees the running of the picturesque Wirral village Port Sunlight has unveiled a multi-million pound three-year strategy to give it a new lease of life.

Plans include a £1.5m project to improve the thermal efficiency of its almost 300 Grade II-listed homes. Built in the late 19th century, the homes are difficult to heat and cannot have standard double-glazing fitted.

Now the Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT), a registered charity, is to kick-start one of the largest commercial secondary glazing installation programmes in the country. And the trust’s three-year strategy also includes a number of other elements.

Built almost 140 years ago, Port Sunlight was constructed on former marshland by industrialist William Hesketh Lever close to Bebington. He wanted to offer homes to the workers at his soap factory.

It comprises 900 Grade II-listed buildings within 130 acres of parkland. The village welcomes 300,000 visitors a year and includes the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a visitor centre and the Gladstone Theatre. Its residential properties are home to more than 2,000 people.

Last year, the trust celebrated 25 years since it was established to take over stewardship of Port Sunlight from global giant Unilever, which still has a factory and R&D centre in the village where its original Lever Brothers soap factory was built.

PSVT aims to deliver a range of projects that include the revitalisation of underused garage sites, enhanced public amenities and sympathetically restore and protect the village’s Grade II-listed Boating Pond, which has been dry for several years.

Over the next 15 months, the team will work closely with heritage specialists and engineers to repair and restore the Boating Pond and Sea Piece fountain.

Empty or underused historic buildings, such as the Stables, are also being brought to life for new commercial uses, including monthly markets and a new independent café.

Paul Harris, chief executive of PSVT, said: “At the heart of our new plan is a deep respect for Port Sunlight’s past, but an even greater commitment to its future.

“We are evolving our role from preservation alone to dynamic stewardship — ensuring Port Sunlight remains environmentally conscious, socially vibrant, and economically resilient.

“Our 2025–28 Strategic Plan recognises that the world around us is changing constantly, and so both Port Sunlight and our charity must evolve and adapt with it. We’re excited to be leading Port Sunlight into a sustainable and inclusive future.”

After leading PSVT for a decade, Paul has also announced that he will be stepping down from the role in early 2026 to begin his retirement. 

During his time he has steered PSVT and the village through some significant moments, from managing the village’s response to the New Ferry explosion in 2017 and the impact of COVID-19 in 2020.

He has also delivered a range of new strategies and plans aimed at growing Port Sunlight’s importance as a heritage site and visitor destination. Recruitment for a new CEO will begin in the coming weeks.

“It’s been an honour to be at the helm of such an inspiring organisation, working with a range of stakeholders to make Port Sunlight a great place to live, work and visit,” added Paul.

“But I’m not leaving just yet – between now and March 2026, I will be staying to ensure the first year of our new Strategic Plan is delivered successfully and the new CEO is recruited over the coming months.”

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As part of its mission, PSVT will continue delivering educational programmes and inclusive events through its museums and heritage venues, including SoapWorks and Bridge Cottage.

Plans are also advancing to redevelop The Lyceum, one of the village’s iconic buildings, into a new inspiring visitor attraction.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has invited PSVT to submit a Round 1 application to transform the current offering to include not only a new museum, but a community facility and learning hub from 2028 onwards.

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