Major Film Studio Expansion Approved Near Reading

A major British film studio next to the M4 has won planning permission to expand onto nearby farmland. Wokingham Borough Council approved use of land south of Oldhouse Farm in Shinfield, near Reading, as an outdoor filming site for five years.

Called Backlot 3, the site will give extra space for outdoor filming and set-building for productions at Shinfield Studios. Movies and shows made at the Berkshire site include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, The Magic Faraway Tree, Last One Laughing and Squid Game.

The developers say the expansion will help the studio attract bigger productions and support growth in the UKs film and TV industry. The application also highlighted links with the University of Reading, offering work placements, training and graduate jobs. More than £4 billion was spent on production in the UK in 2023.

Shinfield Parish Council said it "fully supports this application". The site sits close to the Grade II-listed Oldhouse Farmhouse and Barn; a heritage assessment found limited harm, with the impact described as being at the "low end" of the scale.

In its decision notice, Wokingham Borough Council said "significant weight" had been given to the scheme's economic benefits when granting permission on October 13.

The approval comes with conditions: the land must only be used for film and media production, temporary structures cannot exceed 15 metres, and the site must return to agricultural use when the five-year permission ends. Other rules cover noise, overnight working, lighting, flood risk and measures to protect wildlife including bats and badgers.

Shinfield Studios, near Junction 11 of the M4, opened after planning approvals in 2021 and was recently shortlisted for Studio of the Year at the Screen International Global Production Awards.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter