Bulldozed: A Millionaire Fought for the "Best Man's Den" for 10 Years (4 photos)

Millionaire Graham Wildin spent 10 years trying to save an illegal extension to his home. He even tried to sell the plot for a symbolic £1, but it didn't help to avoid demolition.





British millionaire Graham Wildin's luxury retreat, known as the "ultimate man cave", has been bulldozed after a lengthy legal battle with the local authority. Situated behind his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, the 10,000 sq ft property included a bowling alley, cinema, squash courts, a bar and even a private casino.



The row began in 2014 when Wildin built a building behind his house without planning permission, angering neighbours and the local council. The millionaire claimed he could make changes to his property thanks to Permitted Development Rights (PDR), which allow homeowners to make certain changes to their land without planning permission. However, his claim was ignored and the council ordered demolition, arguing that the property was not up to code.

Despite the injunctions, Wildin stubbornly refused to comply and continued to defend his position. In 2022, he was sentenced to six weeks in prison for contempt of court. In March 2023, the businessman filed an appeal, but it was rejected. An attempt to avoid responsibility by selling the house for a symbolic £1 also did not help.





In June 2024, final demolition permission was received. Work was completed this week, and now only a concrete pad remains on the site of the former "man cave".

"The demolition is complete and we will be seeking full reimbursement from the owner. We thank the locals for their patience and support during this process," a council spokesman said.



The reaction of the neighbours to the demolition has been positive.

"We can see the whole space now and it's much better than it was. People are clearly happy here," one resident said.