 Helping to make movie and TV magic happen
We've given planning permission for Shadowbox Studios in Shinfield to expand outdoor filming operations onto a neighbouring site.
This will have a major economic benefit, allowing it to attract more international productions and cementing its status as a centre of creative excellence.
The consent lasts five years and includes measures to mitigate the impact on the landscape and wildlife.
The studios have hosted the likes of The Magic Faraway Tree, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Star Wars: The Acolyte, Last One Laughing and more.
They're based at Thames Valley Science Park, off the M4, which is owned by the University of Reading and was earmarked for employment in our Local Plan.
We gave planning permission for the studios in 2021 and they fully opened in 2024, operating at the highest level of sustainability in line with our climate and nature goals.
The studios work with Berkshire Film Office and Resource Productions to support local filming and job opportunities.
 More affordable homes for local people
Twenty-one new affordable homes are set to be built in the heart of Wokingham after plans were approved.
We’ll manage the new homes, near Wellington Road and Station Road, which will be available to people with the greatest housing need, including care leavers and adults who need additional support.
Providing more suitable homes locally will help people stay close to their families, communities and support networks. It will also reduce the need for more expensive placements outside the borough, helping us make better use of public money.
All 21 homes will be affordable housing, exceeding the usual 40 per cent target. Most will be one-bedroom flats, with some two-bedroom homes, and all will meet national space and accessibility standards.
The scheme is part of our wider £24 million investment to provide more council and specialist homes for local people, helping more residents live in well-connected locations close to the services and support they need.
 Designer bringing sports hub plan to life
We’ve appointed a design partner for our proposed outdoor sports hub at Grays Farm in South Wokingham, which we hope to seek planning permission for next spring.
GSSArchitecture are refining options for the 60-acre site off Heathlands Road, and we'll be seeking further input on these from sports clubs and other organisations.
Additionally, a cross-party committee of councillors will scrutinise the design proposals at a meeting on Tuesday 24 November.
We've had substantial discussion with interested parties about what provision is needed at Grays Farm, and several clubs have expressed an interest in using the facility or being based there. Early proposals include pitches, changing facilities, spectator accommodation, community space and more.
The hub will be funded by statutory contributions from housing developers, and possibly additional sources, and we're committed to ensuring it's commercially viable.
We'll be providing a more detailed update in the next few weeks.
 New affordable homes proposed in Wokingham
More than 100 new affordable and specialist homes could be built at Rubra One, Rubra two and Alba House in Mulberry Business Park in Wokingham town, helping local people who need somewhere suitable and affordable to live.
We're looking at plans to transform the site into housing for people on our waiting list, including families, care leavers, people with disabilities and those who need extra support to live independently.
Part of the business park was originally bought as an investment in 2018, but falling demand for office space means it's now costing us more than £800,000 a year.
For the past three years, part of one of the units has also been used rent-free by local charity The Cowshed, providing a temporary home after it had to leave its previous premises in Reading.
The proposal could provide much-needed affordable housing while helping us address the ongoing costs of maintaining the site.
The plans were be discussed by our Overview and Scrutiny Committee last week, with a decision due to be made by our Executive on 26 November. Planning permission would also be needed.
 Store access changeover and new walking route
A new access road to the Tesco superstore in Wokingham is now open.
It connects to the supermarket car park from a new roundabout, accessed from Finchampstead Road.
The roundabout joins up with what will be the South Wokingham Distributor Road, with the old Tesco access road now pedestrianised.
 Elsewhere, a new walking route has opened up to help you get around our work on Easthampstead Road.
It takes you from the Star Lane level crossing and uses part of the new South Wokingham Distributor Road to join up with the link road (White Horse Ride).
The new diversion route is more than twice as fast as the old one, helping to make it easier for you to get around our major ongoing work to build a new junction.
With the proximity to the railway line, it is the safest and fastest possible alternative and we're grateful to everyone for bearing with us.
 Above: a map showing the footpath improvement work (click/tap to enlarge)
Improving paths at Dinton Pastures
Work is underway at Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst to upgrade several key paths across the country park.
The improvements will complete a missing link between White Swan Lake and the River Loddon, creating fully connected circular walks around both of the park’s main lakes. Access from Davis Street to the café, toilets, car parks and events area will also be improved.
This first stage of work is expected to take around three to four weeks. Work will then pause over the winter before teams return in January, weather permitting, to add the final surface coat of tarmac and shingle.
Once finished, the paths will have the same type of surface as other upgraded routes at Dinton Pastures and Ashenbury Park, providing firmer, more accessible routes for visitors to enjoy throughout the year.
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