10,000 sq ft 'mancave' that never gained planning given permission to be turned into holiday let

A 10,000 sq ft extension built that never gained planning permission has now been given permission to be transformed into a holiday let.

The building that was built by Graham Wildin, 71, from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, was the centre of a planning row after he ignored multiple requests to remove the building from the Forest of Dean District Council, resulting in him being sent to prison.

Now, in a turn of events, the complex that has a bowling alley, casino and squash court, has been granted temporary planning permission to become a holiday let.

Why was planning previously rejected?

Mr Wildin never gained planning permission for the leisure complex as he believed it  qualified under permitted development rights.

The council deemed the complex in breach of planning regulations due to its size and overbearing nature and ordered its removal.

Despite a prolonged legal process, including an enforcement notice in 2017, Mr Wildin ignored repeated requests to remove the structure. 

Eventually, the High Court granted an injunction against Mr Wildin, ordering the structure's removal and imposing £30,000 in costs on him as well as giving him a six-week prison sentence, to which he served half.

What was the new application for?

The new application was submitted to change the use of the 'mancave' into a six-bedroom holiday let.

The retrospective planning application was submitted by a company called "Paradise Trustees", Paradise being the name on the front gates of the property, but it is not clear who owns this company.

The leisure complex was supposedly sold by Mr Wildin to an unknown Mexican man for just £1 who the Forest of Dean District Council could not find.

The complex is now allowed to be converted into a residential unit to be used by holiday goers and is now already listed on cottages.com as an “Excellent base for a weekend away with friends”.

Why was this application successful?

Despite this previous issues with gaining planning for the leisure complex the council decided to grant the proposal on a temporary basis.

Planning was granted despite 15 local residents writing to the council to object to the application stating: "We would suggest the venue is more akin to a party house and is a venue designed to accommodate parties, reunions etc."

They also claimed the holiday let would:

• Increase parking, traffic and congestion problems for the area
• Cause increase noise due to the property lacking a rear garden meaning social activities would primarily occurring in the front garden or on the raised deck
• Increase the number of parties that already happen at the property, which have allegedly caused noise pollution, including one resident who attempted to learn to play the saxophone during one weekend

They gave planning permission for until the January 1, 2026 as C. A. Reynolds, a Forest of Dean District Council member, ruled:

"A temporary permission is required to enable the highway impacts and the noise impacts of the use to be appropriately assessed and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

"The self-catering accommodation hereby permitted shall only be used for holiday purposes by tourists only and at no point in time shall more than 12 guests stay overnight within the accommodation."

It was also stated that guests could not park in front of the property on the blocked paved area or else face having the planning revoked by the council.