Fears 'Britain's biggest man cave' could become holiday let

13 March 2024 , 13:23

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Graham Wildin inside the leisure centre he has built for himself and his family in his back garden (Image: SWNS)

Britain's 'biggest man cave' could become a holiday let locals fear after a council approved plans - despite objections of noisy hot tubs and saxophones.

Millionaire Graham Wildin, 70, has continuously defied court orders to knock down his illegal 10,000sq/ft leisure complex - and has even served jail time over it. The row has been ongoing since 2014 when Wildin built the man cave with a bowling alley, casino and a cinema at the back of his home - without planning permission.

Wildin, of Cinderford, Gloucestershire, was even locked up for failing to comply with a court order to decommission the building and has lost a string of other court cases. Now temporary go-ahead has been given for an adjoining house to become a holiday let - despite concerns of noise, parties and parking from neighbours.

Aerial view of Graham Wildin's 'man cave' (grey roof) and the swimming pool (red roof) (Icebox Media/SWNS)

The six-bedroomed home backs onto the infamous 10,000sq/ft leisure complex and is apparently owned by his family, reports the LDRS. The LDRS reported locals have raised worries over noise, cars blocking access and bin lorries and "not being able to open their windows due to noisy revellers". The plans were submitted for the six double bedroom house at 24 Meendhurst Road, Cinderford and given temporary approval.

Paradise Trustees, who the LDRS say is understood to be related to Mr Wildin through family, applied to Forest of Dean District Council. 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 say is a ''party house''.

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They were put before the development management committee on Wednesday, according to the LDRS. The property has created problems for people living on Meendhurst Road and ''creates unwelcome additional noise issues'', they say. The say 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 he has built for himself and his family (SWNS)

Objectors said the home ''attracts large groups'' for ''loud parties and loud music'', which means they have to keep their windows shut, the LDRS reports. During one party one guest kept neighbours awake playing a saxophone, locals told the council when objecting to the plans. Objectors said the property is too big for its proposed use, will devalue their homes and already effects their ''quality of life''.

Despite the concerns district council officers recommended approving the plans on a temporary level until January 2026. 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. The LDRS says Ben Pearce, for the applicants, said the holiday let has been used since July 2022 without road issues.

Rom Preston-Ellis