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‘Britain’s biggest man cave’ has now been demolished after 10-year legal battle

Home> News> UK News

Updated 18:12 27 Oct 2024 GMTPublished 16:59 27 Oct 2024 GMT

‘Britain’s biggest man cave’ has now been demolished after 10-year legal battle

The massive man cave has now been reduced to rubble

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

Lads across the UK are no doubt tipping their hats in tribute and raising a glass to what once was, as 'Britain's biggest man cave' has now been bulldozed.

Graham Wildin's pride and joy has now been reduced to rubble following a decade-long legal battle with the council, which all kicked off because he built the 10,000-square-foot sanctuary without getting any planning permission.

The swanky 'man cave' - which was situated at the back of his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire - consisted of a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, a private casino and bar.

The fact he didn't seek permission for the extravagant project back in 2014 didn't sit well with his neighbours or the Forest of Dean District Council, and the accountant was ordered to tear it down.

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According to the local authority, they received a complaint from a member of the public regarding the man cave in November 2013, before they warned Wildin that the project would need planning permission.

Several council officers are said to have then told him his extension was 'not a permitted development', but he continued with its construction.

Wildin argued that he was able to make amendments to his property due to permitted development rights (PDR), which allow homeowners to make certain changes to their pad without planning permission.

However, the conditions of PDR state this doesn't apply to buildings higher than four metres.

Graham Wildin went up against the council for ten years to try and save his man cave (SWNS)
Graham Wildin went up against the council for ten years to try and save his man cave (SWNS)

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In order to try and get around the height restriction, Wildin dug 18 feet into the hillside and insisted the legal loophole meant his construction was lawful.

His clever counterattack didn't pay off though as the council obtained an injunction against him and Wildin was ordered to take down the extension into his property in 2020, being given 18 weeks to do so.

But, still refusing to go without a fight, the wealthy homeowner refused and instead found himself being given a jail sentence in June 2022 for being in contempt of court and for failing to comply with a court order to decommission the controversial building.

He launched an appeal but ultimately lost, as three High Court judges ruled it was right for him to be jailed.

The appeal was dismissed, and the millionaire was given until 10 March, 2022, to comply with the Order to complete the required work, if he was to avoid prison.

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Again, he did not comply with the injunction and was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment in August 2022.

In March 2023, Wildin appealed the prison sentence, which was also dismissed.

The extension boasted a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, a private casino and bar (SWNS)
The extension boasted a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, a private casino and bar (SWNS)

The latest deadline for Wildin to comply with the injunction expired in early January 2023.

The businessman later claimed that he sold off the home for £1, adding that he was no longer the legal owner and couldn't be held liable for changes to the property.

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The row over the man cave rumbled on for ten years, and it has all come to an end with Wildin's hideaway being flattened.

Drone pictures snapped earlier this week show how his luxury creation now resembles a 'concrete car park'.

And even though that's not exactly a pretty sight, one local reckons it's much better than Wildin's man cave.

"It’s about time," the resident said. "We get a full view of it from here. Absolutely, I’m happy to see it go.

"I think all the people down at the bottom [of the road] are very happy."

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Now, it looks more like a car park (SWNS)
Now, it looks more like a car park (SWNS)

Wildin declined to comment on the demolition but the full removal brings an end to a lengthy battle to try and preserve the man cave.

Forest of Dean District Council confirmed the demolition was now complete and they would be pursuing costs from Wildin.

A spokesperson said: "The demolition of the building built without planning permission at Meendhurst Road in Cinderford has now been completed, and the demolition and removal team have now left the site.

"It is important to note that the cost of this process should not be borne by the taxpayer, and we are now working to recover the full cost of the demolition from the landowner.

"We would once again like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding during this process."

After receiving approval to proceed with the demolition, the site was secured on 31 May, 2024, to carry out the work.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Home, UK News, Money

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

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@livburke_

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