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.’