Millionaire fights demolition of garden leisure complex

An accountant who built a leisure complex in his garden without planning permission is facing legal action after refusing to demolish it.

Graham Wildin was ordered by Forest of Dean District Council to knock it down by July 2017.

But after ignoring the notice the millionaire has been taken to court over the complex.

Mr Wildin argued it was one-storey high, like the Nasa shuttle hangar, so no permission was needed.

His building has a cinema, squash court, casino, bar and bowling alley.

It was built in Mr Wildin's garden in the Forest of Dean and has been deemed as two-storey by the district council, so would have needed building consent.

During court proceedings which began on Thursday, Mr Wildin challenged the principal planning officer for Forest of Dean District Council, Stephen Colgate, over what constitutes a single-storey building.

Mr Wildin said he had researched planning law around the world and showed the court a picture of Nasa's vehicle assembly building, which housed the shuttle.

This is purported to be the biggest single-storey building in the world.

Mr Wildin said: "This decision is going to decide whether I live at my house and whether my staff still have jobs and this all comes back to a mistake I made?"

Planner Mr Colgate replied: "But you made several mistakes."

Mr Wildin then showed him the Nasa building, adding: "I've looked at buildings all over the world - you're [Forest of Dean District Council] different. What should I have done to get this right?"

"You should have looked at the permitted development order and the pre-application advice I gave you," Mr Colgate replied.

Mr Colgate told the court it was his opinion, and that of the planning inspector, that the building was two-storey and not allowed under permitted development rights without permission.

The hearing at the Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre continues.