’Biggest man cave’ built without permission with bowling alley and casino to be torn down
Built by a Gloucestershire millionaire in his garden, the illegal construction housed a cinema, bowling alley and a casino, and will be turned to rubble within the next eight weeks
A huge illegally-built “man cave”, complete with bowling alley and a casino, is set to be torn down.
Forest of Dean District Council in Gloucestershire secured the elaborate den today (Friday, May 31) and will demolish the construction within the next eight weeks, 10 years after it was built without permission.
Dubbed “Britain’s biggest man cave”, the 10,000 square foot leisure complex was built by millionaire Graham Wildin at the back of his home on Meendhurst Road, Cinderford and comes with a bowling alley, gym, casino and cinema, Gloucestershire Live reports.
Wildin built the colossal building in 2014 without planning approval, and has been locked in a battle with the council since.
The man cave’s seizure follows a lengthy legal process where Wildin received multiple court orders to demolish the building and served time in prison for contempt of court, Gloucestershire Live reports.
A spokesperson said: “As a council it is our duty to ensure that planning and development proposals comply with the law and bring benefit to the local area, whilst also safeguarding the community.
“Hundreds of people every year follow the correct process for planning applications and development, sadly this has not been the case at this location.
“It is important to note that the cost of this process should not be borne by the taxpayer, and we will look to recover the full cost of the demolition from the landowner in due course.”
Wildin first took steps to construct a leisure centre in the back garden of one of two adjacent houses he then owned at Meendhurst Road in November 2013, prompting a member of the public to submit a complaint to the Forest of Dean District Council.
Graham Wildin defied his council and built the massive construction between two properties he owned (Image: SWNS)
Shortly after the start of construction various council officers advised Wildin that the proposed building was not ‘permitted development’ and required planning permission.
Construction continued despite Wildin being informed of the risks, including financial penalties.
Following a series of warnings, in November 2018 the Council obtained an injunction against Wildin, and he was given until April 25, 2020 to demolish the leisure building.
He built it without planning permission and refused to abort the development (Image: SWNS)
In legal proceedings brought by Forest of Dean District Council in June 2022, Wildin was found in contempt of court for non-compliance with the injunction.
The judge sentenced him to six weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, on the condition that the building be permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks.
Wildin subsequently appealed the decision. The appeal was dismissed, and he was given until March 10, 2022 to comply with the order to complete the required work, if he was to avoid prison.
The man cave also had a cinema room (Image: SWNS)
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