Planit-IE to work up Port Sunlight public realm strategy 

The design practice has been appointed to develop a plan to improve the pedestrian environment and create places for recreation and events at the historic Wirral neighbourhood. 

Having been appointed by Port Sunlight Village Trust, Planit-IE will also aim to boost biodiversity and implement sustainable drainage solutions.

The public realm strategy for Port Sunlight is aimed at contributing to the trust’s vision of creating an inspiring place to live, work and visit.   

Planit-IE’s work will form part of PSVT’s five-year strategic plan, launched in 2019. Since then, the trust has worked with several organisations to develop a new masterplan for the village.  

Chris Blandford Associates, Creative Heritage Consultants, L&R Consulting, Outside Studios, Donald Insall Associates, the University of Manchester, EMBED and the Disability Collaborative Network, and The Environment Partnership have all contributed to the future vision of the historic neighbourhood. 

Paul Harris, chief executive of PSVT, said: “This public realm strategy represents the final piece of our masterplan, bringing all of these elements together to form an exciting new vision for the village, one that protects the heritage character and value of the site while also ensuring that the village is relevant and an inclusive and welcoming place for all.” 

Anna Couch, studio director at Planit-IE, said: “When it was first conceived and developed Port Sunlight was an exemplar model village that raised expectations for the quality of workers’ housing, with values centred on health and wellbeing at the heart of its vision. We are keen to explore how this original vision still resonates and translates in the 21st Century.” 

Founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1888, Port Sunlight is considered an exemplar of early urban planning in the UK. 

The 130-acre village boasts more than 900 grade two-listed buildings and was originally developed to house workers at the Lever Brothers soap factory. 

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Brand Wirral.

By Heswall

Port Sunlight is such a weird place very Stepford.

By Anonymous

We’re already Liverpool’s best suburb in my unbiased opinion. Not keen on the idea of some fancy public realm designer toying with things. Needless to say the proposals will be looked at carefully!!

By Sunlighter

A part of Cheshire that is often overlooked.

By Dee of the deep

No more overlooked than the rest of the Liverpool area, Mr Dee. We haven’t been part of Cheshire for how long?… Our postcode might be CH due to post office reorganising but its numbering should still give a clue.

By Sunlighter

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