A developer has defended his actions over his planned redevelopment of a site in South Norwood that would see a popular car garage knocked down.

James Groux, the landlord of Railway Buildings near Norwood Junction Station, has been in a 12 year battle with Autoclutch Garage owner Richard Hough, whose site is part of the redevelopment, over the development.

This week Mr Hough was issued with a letter from Access Building Contractors, who are working on behalf of Greathall Ltd who Groux represents.

The letter told Mr Hough to remove cars parked in front of the properties so they can carry out demolition work on units one, four, five and six.

These are the buildings surrounding Mr Hough’s garage.

The garage owner, who has repeatedly stated he will not back down in his fight to stay in South Norwood, said he felt threatened by the move to start demolishing the buildings surrounding his property.

But Mr Groux said the decision was a reaction to an enforcement notice from the council which told him to make improvements to the properties as they were unsafe.

He said: “We have an issue where we have to carry out works on the existing buildings and make them safe under the terms of Croydon Council’s requirements which they issued some while a go now.

“The buildings either side of Mr Hough have been unoccupied for many many years and they are basically derelict.

“We are planning to hoard up and make those safe and partially demolish them so they comply with the council.

“We have done everything legally, we are not putting anyone under any unnecessary pressure, everybody is aware of the situation, everyone has been notified well in advance.

“Mr Hough has known the situation for the past 12 years, he has decided to stay and that is his choice. I am not going to make a comment on that but the bottom line is we have adhered to everything. “

He added: “We cannot start full blown demolition until Mr Hough leaves. But we can carry out preparatory works and partial demolitions to make it safe.

“Mr Hough is a man who has made his feelings known. We have done all we can do to provide him with the assistance to move to another premises and there has been several attempts to do this.

“But he has decided to stick to his guns. We will have to see what happens.”

Mr Hough, who sponsors the South Norwood Community Festival as well as amateur football side Souls FC, said he has been told by a surveyor that the works do not warrant demolition.

He said: “I have not spent the thousands of pounds I have done for this to suddenly go away. I am going to continue to fight this. This is going to the courts.”