 Next steps for solar farm project
We’ve appointed Bouygues Energies and Services as the contractor for the new solar farm on land between Barkham and Finchampstead.
Planning permission for the 29 mega watts (MWp) capacity solar farm was granted in September 2021. This means that on a good day, the solar farm could generate 29 mega watts of energy - equivalent to the power needed for 8,500 homes.
The solar farm is just one of the many ways we are helping the environment by generating sustainable power within the borough. It also has financial benefits for the public purse.
Work will now start on designing the solar farm, with initial survey work starting in the coming weeks meaning residents will start to see more activity in and around the site. It is intended that construction work to install the solar panels will start towards the end of the year.
 Milestones reached for new Twyford Library
The new Twyford Library has taken another step forward after we entered into a lease agreement with The Polehampton Trust for its new home.
We have leased the Grade II listed Old Polehampton Boys' School, in Polehampton Close, at a peppercorn (very low) rent for 99 years. This will bring the former school building back into community use for generations to come.
It was originally built to serve the village with money left by Edward Polehampton, a local man who made his fortune through portraiture and coach painting, and is now owned by educational and community charity The Polehampton Trust.
We've also appointed local firm Contract Trading Services to carry out a single-storey extension and accessible entrance, with further changes to make it as energy efficient as possible while preserving its historic character.
We will be making the building as energy efficient as possible given the constraints of the listed building and the site. We're delighted to have reached two significant milestones in this scheme.
IN BRIEF: Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley has become the borough's latest venue to be recognised as breastfeeding friendly by the Breastfeeding Network. Wokingham Leisure Centre, at our new flagship Carnival Hub building, gained the same status last year.
 How could we improve your local journeys?
We'd like everyone who walks, cycles, takes public transport or drives around the borough to answer some simple questions to help us make this safer and easier as we face the challenges of the future.
Your views will guide our updated Local Transport Plan, a strategy document outlining how we maintain and improve footways, cycle lanes, roads and other routes. For a better idea, have a look at our current version which runs to 2026.
This will offer more ways of getting around and more chances to leave the car at home, especially for shorter journeys, which is essential as we strive to reduce air pollution and congestion and tackle the climate emergency.
During this initial engagement, which runs until 12 March, we’re asking your thoughts on things like more support for electric vehicles and cycle parking, or providing more space for pedestrians on pavements in village and town centres.
This will be followed by more detailed consultation, but we’d like you to take part now so the draft reflects your wants and needs from the outset.
 3G pitch plan paused to look again at provision
We've agreed to stop work for now on plans for an artificial 3G sports pitch at Maiden Erlegh School in Earley.
Since last summer, when we first agreed to consult on these proposals, our financial position has worsened and costs for the project have increased.
Following the latest decision by our executive, which was taken last month, the scheme will be put on hold while we develop a borough-wide Playing Pitch Strategy.
As part of this, we will reassess need in Earley and Lower Earley and identify key sites for 3G sports pitches across the borough. The strategy should be published this summer, replacing an outdated version from 2019.
Once this is completed, we'll fully evaluate 3G pitch provision looking at demand and costs associated with each site. This will give us a clear vision for the future, based on evidence that shows where the pitches are needed most.
 Next steps on pitches and pavilion scheme
Thank you for your comments on a planning application for new sport facilities on land west and east of Princess Marina Drive in Arborfield Green. Our statutory consultation closed last Friday (February 17) and we'll decide the next steps after we've gone through your feedback.
The proposal, which has permission in principle through an earlier outline application, is to refurbish the existing rugby, football and cricket pitches and demolish the existing pavilion to replace it with a new, improved single-storey building.
This would have changing rooms to also be used by people using the nearby tennis courts, with a rooftop viewing area and space for socialising. Our planning and sport and leisure teams are working together to ensure this meets your requirements, with further input from Sport England and other outside bodies.
The proposal also includes two new play areas and a multi-use games area and allotments, plus associated measures like a new access road off Princess Marina Drive, parking, footpaths and general landscaping.
These facilities must be provided and funded by developers under terms linked to our planning permission for 2,000 new homes on the former Arborfield Garrison.
Shops, pub, community centre and more to follow
Following last year's pre-application consultation, Crest Nicholson is looking at your feedback before it seeks permission for a new district centre in Arborfield Green.
This will have a food store, which Sainsbury's has shown an interest in occupying, with smaller retail units, a community centre, a pub, green space, allotments and more. We're working with Crest to move this forward as quickly as we can.
 Eye in the sky as film studios take shape
Shinfield Studios, a major international film and television hub which we awarded planning permission in 2021, continues to take shape with four sound stages now open and more to follow throughout the year.
It has commissioned some stunning aerial photographs by Earth Grid which show the latest progress of the build - take a look at the full versions on Facebook.
The finished studios, whose clients already include Disney, will have 18 stages and will be opening in phases throughout this year and next.
It sits on the Thames Valley Science Park, which was allocated for employment use in partnership with the University of Reading as part of our major new community in Shinfield Parish.
The British Museum is also set to move its Archaeological Research Collection to the site, while the Natural History Museum has announced proposals to open a science and digitisation centre.
|
