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. 

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. 

We're improving drainage features across the borough to improve our flood resilience for the months ahead. 

Measures include new pipes and drains, linings and permeable paving, clearing blockages and reshaping roads. 

We've finished some schemes while others are under way, and we're also carrying out deep cleans and surveys. 

We've reinvested a further £150,000 into drainage this year, so we can target areas that need most attention. 

This should help over winter as we’re expecting more wet weather as part of the changing climate. 

Much of our network relies on drainage working properly and we aren't responsible for every watercourse. 

Most are on private land, though we give advice to landowners and have enforcement powers to ensure they meet their duties. 

Now the clocks have gone back and the evenings are darker, there is help nearby for anyone who may need support while out and about. 

There are now 27 Safe Places across Wokingham Borough, including libraries, leisure centres, community venues, shops and pubs. Each one displays a Safe Places sticker in the window. 

Anyone who feels lost, anxious or unsafe can go into a Safe Place and ask for help. Staff can offer somewhere to wait, give directions, or call a family member, friend or support service on their behalf. 

Residents can also carry a free Safe Places Card, which makes it easy to show staff they need help. The paper card fits in a wallet or purse and has space for their name, two trusted contacts and phone numbers, plus any important information.

Cards can be cut out from information leaflets, which are available from Wokingham Borough Council reception at Shute End, Optalis Head Office, Wokingham Charity & Community Hub in Erftstadt Court off Denmark Street, and local libraries.