13 March 2024 , 13:04
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A millionaire's controversial 'man cave' dubbed 'Britain's biggest' could become a holiday let, as locals fear noise from hot tub parties and saxophones.
Graham Wildin defied multiple court orders to demolish the illegally-built unit at his mansion in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, even facing jail time, before selling it for £1. The 10,000 square foot hideaway features a bowling alley, in-built cinema, casino and games room, all built without planning permission.
After building it in 2014, 70-year-old Mr Wildin was issued with a court order to decomission the building, which he failed to obey, subsequently serving a six-week jail sentence for contempt of court. He's also lost a string of other court cases to keep the building.
But now proposals to turn the neighbouring house into a holiday let have been given a temporary green light, casting more controversy over the development. Worried neighbours fear the let could result in noise from parties and cars blocking access.
The 10,000 square ft complex (pictured with the grey roof) has repeatedly been ordered to be torn down (Icebox Media / SWNS)Temporary approval was granted for the six-bed home backing on to the complex to be used as a holiday let, the BBC's Local Democracy service reports. Paradise Trustees, who the LDRS say is understood to be related to Mr Wildin through family, applied to Forest of Dean District Council.
Homeowner who built house on driveway forced to tear it down in planning row
They applied for retrospective permission to change the use of the house into a holiday let. Dozens of locals and Cinderford Town Council objected to the holiday let proposals for the house next door which they claim is a ''party house''. They were put before the development management committee on Wednesday.
Problems have already arisen from the property, which neighbours claim ''creates unwelcome additional noise issues''. Residents living nearby expressed fears a ''hot tub is very echoey'' and ''all external socialising takes place in the front garden or primarily on the raised deck area to the front of the property.''
Graham Wildin inside the leisure centre which has its own cinema (David Hedges / SWNS)It's claimed the home "attracts large groups" and would result in "loud parties and loud music". During one party one guest kept neighbours awake playing a saxophone, locals told the council in their objections.
They also said the property was too big for its proposed use, and would devalue their homes with it already impacting their ''quality of life''. Planning bosses at Forest of Dean District Council recommended approving the plans on a temporary level until January 2026, despite residents' objections.
They said it will allow highway impacts and noise impacts of the use to be appropriately assessed. One local who spoke on behalf of 25 residents said there had been noise complaints and stress caused by parking issues, and bin problems. Ben Pearce, for the applicants, said the holiday let has been used since July 2022 without road issues.
Speaking previously about the controversy, grandad Mr Wildin said he sold the complex to another man for just £1 as it was “worth nothing as it is now”, agreeing it should be knocked down but refusing to bulldoze it as doing so would be too dangerous. He told The Sun in March last year: “We dug out 9,500 tons of soil to make the cave and that all needs to be put back. I think it would be too dangerous to do that works."
Comparing the potential impact of knocking it down to one of the biggest disasters in British history, which resulted in the deaths of 116 school children, he said: “Remember the Aberfan disaster? The house is at the front and the cave behind and if all the tons of soil are moved we could have another slip and the house could be gone."