 VIDEO: Lights, camera, action on film studio progress
The owners of Shinfield Studios, a major international film and TV centre which we awarded planning permission last year, are making fantastic progress as they move towards a partial opening early next year.
The complex, based south of the M4 at Thames Valley Science Park as part of the University of Reading's Cine Valley creative hub, will have 18 sound stages with supporting facilities when it opens fully in 2024.
It has already confirmed Disney among its first clients and we're hoping to share more news as things move forward. Our senior councillors recently visited and were impressed with what they saw, and several local schools have also had a glimpse behind the scenes.
We're now working with the owners and other agencies to identify the skills they need most - including roles in front of the camera and others like carpentry, catering and technology. This will ensure we make the most of the employment opportunities it presents to residents.
Watch the latest developments online
The studio's owners have shared a stunning aerial video of the scheme as it takes shape, including a spectacular fly-through of the site.
The BBC also recently visited to report on its progress and speak with joint managing director Nick Smith, who gave an insight into how it will be used.
The right kind of growth, now and in future
The build uses modular construction, in which parts are built off-site to save time and emissions, and includes "green" features like insulation, solar roof panels, air source heat pumps, cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.
The studios are part of the borough's major development at Shinfield parish and part of the infrastructure, mostly funded by developers, which was secured alongside the new housing that the Government requires this area to take.
Looking forward, we're lobbying hard to ensure the borough takes a lower, fairer share of housing in future and recently secured an audience on this subject with housing minister Lucy Frazer MP.
 Sainsbury's sets sights on new village store
A new branch of Sainsbury's is set to open at the proposed district centre in Arborfield Green, part of the borough's major new community at the former Arborfield Garrison.
The retailer has confirmed its intention to open a "neighbourhood hub" store, which is a larger version of its convenience stores and allows for more varied shopping thanks to its increased size and wider range of products. It would include a “click and collect” service and would create about 40 jobs.
The store would form part of a larger district centre off Nine Mile Ride Extension, which we've given outline planning permission for and are now awaiting a more detailed submission from developer Crest Nicholson.
The development is required to include this, which we imposed to ensure residents benefit from high-quality infrastructure. Matters like parking and landscaping will be confirmed by a separate planning application.
 District centre plans progress with public exhibition
On Thursday last week (8 December), Crest exhibited revised plans for the district centre and is now seeking people's feedback before submitting a planning application to us, hopefully early in the new year.
The scheme includes the proposed supermarket and smaller shops, a square, community centre, pub and green space with paths and allotments. Following talks with our planners, a different layout and access with new pedestrianised areas is proposed since the last exhibition in April.
The complex will be built near Bohunt School and Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, offering improved access to the latter, and will include a refurbishment of the nearby historic Infirmary Stables for a return to community use.
Under an existing outline permission, the development must include improvements to the area's sports pavilion, playing fields and other facilities. These will come forward through a separate application that we're expecting from Crest soon.
If you weren't able to attend Crest's event, you can look at the revised plans on the developer's website. Please send your feedback as soon as possible.
 Lidl coming to village as plans get go-ahead
We're pleased to announce that we've granted planning permission for a Lidl food store at the district centre in Shinfield village, on land off Hollow Lane and north of Beke Avenue, near the community centre which opened last year.
The store will have a 1,305 sq m sales floor including an in-store bakery, with two electric vehicle charging points outside and capacity for more if needed, plus space for solar panels on the roof.
There will be 87 parking places including disabled and parent-and-child bays. The applicant says this will meet demand as this is expected to peak at 46 spaces a day during the week and 77 spaces on a Saturday.
The development is expected to create about 40 full-time and part-time jobs. It will also have sheltered stands for 14 bicycles and improved pedestrian access to the wider community with two new crossings north and east of the site.
 A better Greggs in Wokingham town centre
Customers and Greggs fans are in for a treat as the bakery opened its doors at its new premises at Peach Street in Wokingham on Saturday, 26 November.
Previously located at 6 Broad Street, Greggs signed a new lease with us in October to improve its premises, location and overall offering to shoppers.
The new branch is now located at 6 Peach Street, which is part of our regeneration project in the town centre at Peach Place.
For those yet to download the Greggs App, you can get a free bake in addition to a free hot drink if you sign up before 2 January.
 High-tech new library is welcoming to all
Our new library at the Carnival Hub in Wokingham has published a new guide to make it accessible to those with additional needs.
This was produced with input from the borough's CLASP self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, whose members visited to find out more and make suggestions before it opened in September.
The library service also analysed new membership data to help make it more accessible to neuro-divergent residents (for example, those on the autism spectrum) and people with Alzheimer's.
The new space is all on the ground floor to make it easier for those with mobility issues and includes improved disabled toilet facilities, including a changing places facility in the wider hub. Find out more about our libraries service online.
The BXGFit boxing fitness centre, based at Peach Place in Wokingham as part of our town centre regeneration, has just reached its first anniversary. It will soon install new equipment and welcomes people of all ages and abilities with classes including circuits, strength and conditioning and more.
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