Cinema screens at a proposed new Shinfield Studios building could be used by local residents on the weekends, it has been suggested.

Shinfield Studios wants permission to build a “gateway” building at Thames Valley Science Park, featuring two cinema screens with a total of 100 seats.

The screens would be mostly used for editing film and media in the post-production stage – but could be opened up to “community use” on the weekends under an agreement with Wokingham Borough Council.

Councillors on Wokingham Borough’s planning committee were set to discuss and vote on whether to grant the scheme planning permission at a meeting on Wednesday, October 11.

READ MORE: Kings' Speech producer promotes Shinfield Studio scheme

Planning officers are recommending that councillors approve the plans – but with the condition that Shinfield Studios agrees to provide “community infrastructure.”

Officers say Shinfield Studios could meet this condition by agreeing to open up their cinema spaces to the community on weekends.

Alternatively, the studio could instead to provide additional community facilities elsewhere n Shinfield. The council has the power to demand this through what’s known as a Section 106 agreement.

The planning officer’s report to the committee says: “The building would mostly serve as office space to support the main campus, however, it also includes a two screen post-production screening cinema which combined have 100 seats.

“The main use of the cinema spaces would be for editing film and media content to support the activities for the wider site. It can however also potentially be used for community use on weekends.”