In a British village with 900 listed buildings and a long list of strict rules for residents

Tree-lined boulevards, sprawling rows of cottages and acres and acres of stunning green space make Port Sunlight on Merseyside one of Britain’s most idyllic villages

Britons who yearn to become residents of a stunning village nestled between rolling fields and scenic forests must follow a long list of strict rules.

Picturesque tree-lined boulevards, sprawling rows of cottages and 130 acres of green space make Port Sunlight, Merseyside as picturesque as a village can get.

But those lucky enough to live there must abide by a long list of rules, Cheshire Live reports.

The utopian village, which lies on the Wirral, consists of more than 900 listed houses and was the brainchild of a 19th century industrialist.

English philanthropist Lord Leverhulme developed the rural paradise to provide affordable, quality housing for the workers at his Sunlight Soap factory.

House tenancies used to be tied to the factory, but this changed after the houses were modernized and more became privately owned in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Today around 600 of the houses are privately owned and 300 are looked after by the Port Sunlight Village Trust who rent them out, with only a small number of people living in Port Sunlight working in the factory.

Contrary to what many believe, there is no verification procedure to live in Port Sunlight and it is not just for people of a certain age.

But in order to preserve the village’s character as it has been for more than 130 years, anyone wishing to live in Port Sunlight is advised before buying or renting a home that there is a restrictive list of things they can do not.

In 2021 the Liverpool echo got an insight into the life of the inhabitants of the historic village.

Resident John Spilletts, 75, said: “I wouldn’t say it was ‘rules’, it’s more like ‘agreements’ – the decoration inside is absolutely fine but changes inside need to be consulted, the Port Sunlight Village Trust has plans for all houses, changes can only be made if they meet Grade II listed criteria.

Here are some of the rules that John and his roommates must follow:

No fences, hedges or gates around gardens

The Port Sunlight Village Trust controls everything between the curb and the doors of the houses, which means that the lawn in front of a Port Sunlight house is communal.

The Trust aims to preserve the original design and spirit of the village and will not allow gates, fences and hedges to be erected in front of houses.

On the positive side, however, the residents are spared the hassle of mowing the lawn.

The residents have to pay for the upkeep of the village

The green areas, lawns, flower beds and much more that is part of the village’s landscape are all maintained by the Trust’s landscape team.

The team even changes the plants depending on the season.

They ensure that all grass is cut and kept clean, shrubs are well pruned and introduce beautiful flowers year round.

John told that echo that the service costs just £1 per year for each resident of Port Sunlight, a price which has remained unchanged since the program began.

Front doors must have a specific color

Each row of houses was designed by a different architect in a different style and all have their own unique flourishes, quirks and fashions.

Some have large bay windows while others have arched doors, and all have very limited color schemes that must match the original design.

In order to preserve the village’s appearance, great care is taken to ensure that the houses are only updated within the rules of their listed status – and that includes what color the front door is.

A permit must be obtained to install a Ring Doorbell

If residents want a high-tech doorbell, they must apply to Wirral Council for planning permission to upgrade.

No “For Sale” signs or Heavenly Judgments allowed

Residents cannot simply register when they wish to list their Port Sunlight property for sale.

As John explained, “The outside can only be painted to match the color scheme and there are no ‘For Sale’ signs or Heavenly Judgments, brick walls and gates are always rejected outside – it gives it that total village feel.”