Film company seeks expansion of studios near Reading

Film studio company Stage 50 wants permission to demolish two warehouses at the Winnersh Triangle business park near Reading and replace it with a 48,000 square foot sound stage.

If the plans are given the go-ahead, they would be the latest element of a project to build a new “creative quarter” at Winnersh Triangle.

Plans submitted to the council say the new building would take up an area of some 4,500 square metres, and be 18 metres high – having a “strong visual presence” at the business park which already houses the nine storey Crowne Plaza hotel.

Union4 Planning 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.

“Soundproofing is essential and the provision of elephant doors are also a fundamental feature, as the buildings need to accommodate large pieces of set, vehicles and stage equipment whilst delivering the necessary acoustic and climatic mitigation.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council has received no objections from Winnersh residents, and says there are no buildings where people live nearby.

Planning officers also say the number of parking spaces that would provided – 152 – meet its approved standards. There would also be a new pedestrian crossing on Eskdale Road, and space to park 30 cycles.

Some 21 trees will be removed to make way for the new building – but planning officers say this is acceptable as there are plans for new plants on Eskdale Road to replace them.

A sound stage is a soundproofed building where audio can be recorded while filming, rather than being added afterwards. Union4 Planning said Winnersh Triangle is an ideal place to build new film facilities, as it’s close to London, the M4 and Heathrow Airport.

The proposals form part of a wider masterplan which seeks the development of a new ‘creative quarter’ at Winnersh Triangle with the delivery of a total of 5 sound stages, offices, and workshops and one of the largest Virtual Production Stages in Europe.

The new sound stage could create up to 250 jobs while in use.

It's another boost to the Berkshire film production industry which includes one of the biggest studio complexes at Shinfield just south of Reading.

Last week Screen Berkshire was launched to promote training and job opportunities - read more here