Winnersh Film Studios: Production company to build huge sound stage building

An artist's impression has been produced of the proposed new sound stage building

A new film studio sound stage building has been given the green light.

Production company Stage Fifty opened Winnersh Film Studios in 2021 and had its retrospective planning application formally passed last year.

It has now been given approval to demolish two warehouses on the site at the Winnersh Triangle Business Park in Berkshire.

The company intends to replace them with a sound stage building that can accommodate two studios.

The plans, which were approved by Wokingham councillors on Wednesday night, are the latest element of a project to build a new "creative quarter".

Ward councillor Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, who spoke in favour of the proposal, remarked: "We do need more employment in the borough....I guarantee you there's less people employed in the area right now.

"It looks like Wokingham's becoming the Hollywood of England at this point."

Trees removed

The proposal submitted to the council showed the building would stand at 59ft (18m) high and take up a 14,763sqft (4,500sqm) area.

It was said to have a "strong visual presence" at the business park, which already houses the nine-storey Crowne Plaza hotel.

The application said: "As a sound stage, there are certain fundamental requirements that the site and building must deliver.

"Primarily there must be the necessary amount of space, these are significantly sized spaces that need to accommodate oversized equipment and crews of people."

The council did not receive any objections from Winnersh residents, adding there were no residential buildings nearby.

Planning officers also said the 152 parking spaces met its approved standards. There would also be a new pedestrian crossing in Eskdale Road and space to park 30 cycles.

Twenty-one trees will be removed to make way for the new building but officers said this was acceptable as there are plans for new plants in Eskdale Road to replace them.

The approval came with a number of conditions, including the completion of a Section 106 within three months or by an agreed extended timeframe.

A Section 106 is a legal agreement between the local authorities and the developers, which can be linked to planning permission and obligations.

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