UK's 'biggest man cave' finally torn down after 10-year battle to save it

The UK's 'largest man cave' is finally being dismantled after a protracted dispute over the "eyesore" constructed more than a decade ago.

Graham Wildin, a 70 year old millionaire, has persistently ignored court orders to demolish his unauthorised 10,000sq/ft leisure complex, even serving time in prison as a result. The disagreement has been ongoing since 2014 when he erected the leisure complex - complete with a bowling alley, casino and cinema - at the rear of his property without obtaining planning permission.

Wildin, from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, was even incarcerated for failing to adhere to a court order to decommission the building and has suffered a series of other legal defeats.  

Earlier this year, the Forest of Dean District Council confirmed that the structure would be demolished.

Work to dismantle it commenced last week.  His first of five court losses occurred in September 2018 when a High Court injunction was issued, initially giving him until the end of April 2020 to remove the building.

Wildin failed to comply with the injunction and received a suspended sentence in June 2021.  He then lost an appeal against the sentence at the Court of Appeal in November of that year and was ordered to tear down the complex by March 10, 2022.

However, when Wildin continued to defy the order, his six-week suspended sentence for contempt of court was activated on August 13, 2022.  Upon his release from HMP Cardiff, he was given 18 weeks to "soft strip" the interior of the building to render it unusable.

The deadline expired in January 2023, and last year marked his fifth court defeat as his sentence was upheld. He was ordered to pay £9,962 in costs to the district council, despite claiming he had sold everything for a mere £1.

In September 2023, it was reported that an interim injunction had been issued to prevent him from harassing neighbours with parking issues and CCTV surveillance.  

Neighbours of Wildin claimed that he was venting his frustration with the council on them by filling up the street's parking spaces with his collection of vintage cars.

He appealed against this, and in December it was reported that he was granted a final injunction. This allowed him to park only two cars on the road, with provision for two visitors who could stay for a maximum of eight hours.

The judge also ruled that Mr Wildin could not maintain CCTV surveillance cameras on the exterior of any vehicle or on any extendable pole.  

However, in March of this year, it was reported that the six-bedroom home near the 'man cave', believed to be owned by his family, was set to become a holiday let.

Temporary permission has been granted for it to be used as such, despite local concerns about noise, cars and "noisy revellers".

A spokesperson for the Forest of Dean District Council stated: "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, while 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."

"We will work closely with our demolition contractor, to limit any disruption for residents."

"We would like to also take this opportunity to thank the people living in close proximity to this property for their patience during this lengthy legal process."