 Pupils at St Cecilia's Primary School at the opening of a developer-funded playground in North Wokingham
Building on our record of securing infrastructure
We've agreed to move forward with our new Local Plan by submitting it for independent examination - and you can find out more about what we're proposing.
The plan sets out all aspects of how our borough should develop until 2040. This includes acceptable locations for new housing, and policies to:
- secure quality community infrastructure, funded by developers
- provide affordable homes, so future generations can live and work locally
- protect green spaces across the borough
- ensure zero-carbon development where possible
We've published the draft plan for comment on its soundness and legal compliance, and we're accepting responses until Wednesday 13 November.
 Above: a new housing development, viewed from a developer-funded nature park
A renewed commitment to a proven approach
Our current Local Plan, which covers the 2006 to 2026 period, is set to secure almost £1 billion in developer-funded infrastructure including:
- almost £250 million in major new roads like the Arborfield Cross Relief Road, the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, Nine Mile Ride Extension and the North Wokingham Distributor Road, as well as active travel routes
- £240 million in affordable housing
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£170 million in public open space totalling 240 hectares
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£100 million in new primary and secondary schools, such as Floreat Montague Park Primary School and Bohunt Wokingham Secondary School, and improvements to existing schools
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£45 million in sports facilities including the Arborfield Green Leisure Centre
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£11 million in community facilities, such as Carnival Hub
That's why we're proposing a similar approach in the new Local Plan.
We've learned from experience that spreading new homes across smaller sites can result in poor quality housing, with little infrastructure or affordable housing.
To combat this, we've taken the bold step of allocating major new developments strategically, instead of allowing more extensive building across the borough.
Funding for the infrastructure listed above is typically provided by the developers, under legal agreements linked to their permissions for new housing, rather than costing the taxpayer money.
Our new Local Plan builds on this by requiring at least 40 per cent affordable housing on major developments, of which 70 per cent must be social rented.
We're hosting two drop-in information sessions about the Local Plan on:
- Tuesday 29 October (4pm to 7pm), Pound Green Room, School Green Centre, Shinfield, RG2 9EH
- Thursday 31 October (6pm to 9pm), council offices foyer, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN
You'll be able to talk to officers and councillors about the plan, and how to respond. If you can't make those dates, we can speak to you on request at our offices on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November (9.30am to 4.30pm).
 Secondary school set for sixth-form expansion
A sixth form extension to the Bohunt School Wokingham at Arborfield Green is set to open in September 2026.
We've been working closely with the Bohunt Education Trust on the proposal, which will create 300 new places in this age group.
This much-needed provision in our borough's rural south will allow more young people to continue studying in the area where they live.
As well as reducing travel costs, it will improve the environmental impact by making walking, cycling or taking public transport to school more feasible.
This follows a decision by our executive to provide an increased financial contribution towards the new sixth form in October last year.
Bohunt Wokingham opened in 2016, thanks to funding from developers, and was the first new secondary school to be built in the borough in more than 50 years.
 Primary school proposal comes forward
A detailed planning application has been submitted for a new primary school, to be funded by developer contributions, in Spencers Wood.
The school, which is part of our current Local Plan and has outline permission, would be based off Fullbrook Avenue and Hyde End Lane. If it's approved, the scheme will move forward when there is enough demand in the area.
It would have a single form of entry and capacity for up to 210 pupils. There would also be 30 nursery places and provision for certain special educational needs.
It would have sports facilities, a hall, play areas and more, and wider community uses for these will be considered.
A full version of the plan seen above can be seen on page 13 of the application's design and access statement (PDF document).
 Photo by Darren McQuade (www.darrenmcquademagic.com)
Spooktacle unfolds at new community cinema
A new £300,000 community cinema has opened thanks to a joint venture between Shinfield Parish Council and Shinfield Studios.
It held its launch event on Friday, 4 October with a red-carpet reception attended by more than 100 guests.
They were greeted by a magician and entertainers dressed as the Ghostbusters, along with their car ECTO-1 and ghosts from the franchise including Slimer and Stay-Puft the Marshmallow Man.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was filmed at the studios on Thames Valley Science Park last year, along with other high-profile productions.
The new cinema is based at the School Green community centre, which opened in partnership with the University of Reading in 2021 as part of the new development taking place at Shinfield Parish.
Its Ryeish Green room has been equipped with retractable rows of seating and a reinforced floor plus a new screen and projector. You can watch a drone fly-through of the finished cinema by Reading Drones.
A new centre of creative excellence
The studios were required to provide the new cinema as part of their legal agreement with us when we gave planning permission for their main complex in 2021.
It's now the UK's largest new film and TV studio, totalling a million square feet with 18 sound stages, including two of the biggest in the country at 43,000 sq ft each.
We've completed a legal agreement with the Natural History Museum over its plans for a new collections, research and digitisation centre at Shinfield.
The centre will help researchers around the world tackle issues like climate change, which supports our ambition to address the climate emergency.
 New shops and more to serve growing community
We've received a detailed planning application for a neighbourhood centre at Finchwood Park, part of the former Arborfield Garrison development.
This will provide two ground-floor shop units to serve new residents and will have 18 one- and two-bedroom apartments, all affordable, on the floors above.
It will be set back from the road to provide a landscaped village square with scope to accommodate outdoor seating or host community events, including markets.
It will be located on land to the south and west of Nine Mile Ride Extension, and next to a plot where a primary school is set to be provided in due course.
Outline planning permission for the scheme has already been granted as part of a wider application for up to 1,500 new homes and related amenities.
 Homes to bring primary school and other amenities
Three planning applications have been submitted to us for extensions at South Wokingham in support of our new Local Plan - find out more here, here and here.
It is unlikely that any decision will be made before our new Local Plan is adopted.
Meanwhile, proposals for up to 1,649 new homes in support of our existing Local Plan have been approved, with a decision on plans for 171 more to be issued soon.
In line with our vision for the area's future growth, these applications include a wealth of developer-funded amenities including:
- a two-form entry primary school
- a local centre with shop units and a community building
- public open space plus play areas
- a new nature park and extension to the existing Buckhurst Meadows
You can view the first and second applications, which have been decided, and the third, for which a decision will soon be issued, on our planning portal.
 Partner sought for new community space
We're looking for a local group or organisations to run a new community centre in North Wokingham.
We're looking for an organisation to help establish a vibrant and welcoming hub off Queens Road at Matthewsgreen. We'll work together to provide a range of events and activities which will benefit the local community for years to come.
As well as using the building for their own needs, those taking on day to day management will be able to bring forward ideas to encourage community use of the space and generate money.
Expressions of interest in running the building are invited from groups and organisations with a proven track record in community management, charity work or event promotion.
You can find out more on our website along with an application pack. Please submit your application before Friday 25 October.
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