Millionaire who illegally built ‘Britain’s best man cave’ buys nearby properties creating ‘FORTRESS’
Millionaire who illegally built ‘Britain’s best man cave’ creates a ‘FORTRESS’ by buying neighbouring properties for his family in a bid to stop council bulldozers moving in
Graham Wildin illegally built ‘Britain’s best man cave’ in his garden back in 2014 A March 10 deadline was set for it to be demolished, but no work has taken placeHe has reportedly bought surrounding houses for his family to stifle the councilIt is believed bulldozers need permission from neighbours to reach the man cave
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A millionaire who illegally built ‘Britain’s best man cave’ has created a ‘fortress’ by buying surrounding properties for his family in a bid to stop council bulldozers demolishing the complex, it was claimed today.
After an eight year battle, Graham Wildin, 69, was ordered by the courts to destroy the huge building that includes a cinema, squash court and a bowling alley.
The final deadline to pull it down to avoid jail for contempt of court passed nearly a month ago, but the structure remains in place and the accountancy boss remains out of prison.
It is understood neighbours and now relatives would have to give permission for the bulldozers to pass over their land to reach Wildin’s ‘man cave’ to forcibly take it down.
Some neighbours have complimented his ‘clever’ plan, with others believe he is ‘digging his own grave’.
Graham Wildin, 69, illegally built an enormous ‘man cave’ complex in his garden in Gloucestershire, to try and prevent the council demolishing it has been claimed he has bought surrounding properties for his family
The deadline for Mr Wildin to demolish the 10,000 sq ft ‘man cave’ complex with a cinema, squash court and a bowling alley has already passed
One neighbour who lives near to Mr Wildin (house pictured) thinks he will be paying ‘the bill for all this, his ‘man cave’ will have gone and he will be in prison’
Mr Wildin was initially given until the end of April 2020 to remove the 10,000sq/ft complex
Land registry records show the properties to the front and side have now either been sold or transferred to a company of which his kids are directors.
The 10,000sq/ft complex is on land owned by Mr Wildin, at 24b Meendhurst Road – which he bought in 2013 for 230K.
Property 24a Meendhurst Road – known as Altea – has been transferred to Expresser Ltd, a company based in Lydney, Glos.
According to Companies House, the active directors of the company are currently Graham’s daughters Jacqueline Mannion and Louise Trigg and his son Philip Wildin.
Philip is listed as joining the company in October 2004 and is a financial adviser, while Jacqueline and Louise, who also joined that year are listed as ‘accountants.’
Other former directors include Graham Wildin himself, who is listed as resigning in 2004.
In relation to the third property on the site, number 24 Meendhurst, which was formerly owned by Graham Wildin.
Land registry records show the land in this title was also transferred to Expresser Ltd.
Documents show the price paid for the plots on June 5 2020 by Expresser Ltd was £226,566.
Mr Wildin was handed a suspended prison sentence after he was found to be in contempt of court when he missed the last deadline to remove the building
Mr Wildin spent £200,000 building the entire complex in 2014
The relaxation area and games room in Mr Wildin’s huge ‘man cave’ in his home
Wildin didn’t respond to requests for comment – but neighbours were split on his latest tactic – with some saying he has ‘dug his own grave’ as the council could seek a further court order to access – while others praising his ‘ingenuity.’
One neighbour, who praised the plan, said: ‘The council can’t now knock it down, as legally they have to have permission of the land owner to cross the land to get to the building.
‘He has given ownership of that land, to his children, who aren’t going to allow that permission. They can’t force them. Like it or loathe it, it’s clever.’
But another neighbour said they felt it wouldn’t end well for him.
They added: ‘He builds his oversized ‘man cave’, without planning permission and has spend about eight years of his life, fighting the council and lost at every point.
‘He now has a suspended sentence, with prison time, if he fails to comply with the court order, and now that he hasn’t complied with those orders he is now in contempt of court.
‘He thinks he has now outsmarted the authorities, by surrounding his property, with land that is the ownership of his family members, so the council cannot get to the man cave to demolish it.
‘All the council has to do is seek a court order to gain access to neighbouring land and they will then have access to the ‘man cave’, to demolish it.
‘He will be footing the bill for all this, his ‘man cave’ will have gone and he will be in prison.’
Another neighbour added: ‘He’s digging his own grave and the council will bury him.’
Mr Wildin has previously said at previous hearing that it would cost him £72,000 to demolish the ‘mancave’ and this would affect the livelihoods of his 50-strong staff at his accountancy firm
Mr Wildin caused ‘parking chaos’ by moving his classic car collection onto the street
Neighbours of the accountant in Cinderford, Forest of Dean accused him of going to war with them when he moved his classic car collection outside
Wildin first sparked outrage amongst his neighbours when he was later found to have carried out the work without the required planning permission in 2014.
A lengthy legal fight followed ending with a High Court judge handing down an injunction in 2018 and Wildin was initially given until the end of April 2020 to remove the 10,000sq/ft complex.
This ordered Wildin to tear down the sports centre as it had a serious impact on his neighbours in Cinderford, Gloucestershire.
But after failing to carry out the court’s orders, he was found in contempt of court.
Mr Justice Jarman handed down a custodial sentence of six weeks, suspended for 12 months in November last year and a new deadline was set for March 10 this year.
Wildin has now reached the deadline to comply with the order to complete the required work under the threat of prison if he failed to do so.
He also faces a £300,000 tax bill after HMRC refused to believe his claim the man cave was for ‘holidaymakers’ and therefore the work was tax-deductible.
During the judgment, Lady Justice Laing also found that the council had no way of proving whether Mr Wildin could afford to demolish the building, as he has never made full disclosure of his assets.
But she described him as ‘entirely the author of his own misfortune’ and said there was ‘reasonable basis’ to believe he was a very wealthy man.’
Forest of Dean District Council was also been awarded substantial costs as part of the hearing.
The council has been contacted for comment.
But speaking after an earlier hearing, Cllr Tim Gwilliam said the whole process had been completely avoidable.
He said: ‘As a council it is important to ensure that development proposals improve the environments in which they live, whilst safeguarding the community.
‘Every year, hundreds of people ask the council for planning advice and follow it. This has not been the case in Mr Wildin’s instance.’
Wildin has also been approached for comment.
