William Eichler 22 April 2025

Council spends £220k demolishing ‘man cave’

Council spends £220k demolishing ‘man cave’ image
© Allison H. Smith / Shutterstock.com.

Forest of Dean District Council was forced to spend £220,000 demolishing an illegally built leisure complex belonging to a millionaire.

Dubbed ‘Britain's biggest man cave’, the building housed a bowling alley, casino, and cinema and was constructed without planning permission.

A council spokesperson said efforts to recover the £220,000 from the landowner were ‘actively underway’.

They added: ‘These rules are in place to ensure development is carried out legally, safely, and in a way that protects our communities and shared environment.

‘When individuals choose to ignore these rules, they not only act unlawfully but place an unfair burden on the wider public.’

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Surveyor

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £50,269 - £54,495
We are looking for an individual who has specialist knowledge of property and property processes and who has a professional, positive, enthusiastic an Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SEN Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£32,916 - £51,048 + (SEN 1 £2,787)(SEN2 £5,497)
MFL/ Generic SEN Teacher Required to start as soon as possible   Croft Community School is a welcoming specialist school for pupils with Autism Spectr Stanley
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£32,916 - £51,048 + (SEN 1 £2,787)(SEN2 £5,497)
Technology Class Teacher Required to start as soon as possible.   Croft Community School is a welcoming specialist school for pupils with Autism Spect Stanley
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Business Services Co-ordination and Improvement Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £28,142- £31,022 (Pay award pending)
A fantastic opportunity has arisen within Business Services for a full-time Co-ordination and Improvement Officer, based at Annand House in Meadowfie Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Admin Assistant – Finance/HR

Durham County Council
£26,403 to £28,598 pro rata (pending pay award)
Permanent Contract - Full Time - 37 hours per week - 08
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner