Developer says empty public toilets where two £300,000 small homes are to be built needed to be knocked down

April 2: Kicking up a stink: toilets-to-tiny homes development in Ewell Village "causing severe disruption"

David Greaney said the houses, being built by Cannonside on an 0.019 acre site opposite Bourne Hall, had rid the area of a place where needles, vermin and asbestos were common.

For sale: Call now to avoid disappointment - the homes are for sale on the Epsom Guardian homes section for £300,000 as a "rare opportunity to purchase a choice of two brand new semi detached houses". The average price of a semi-detached house in the neighbourhood is £586,625.

He said: "We found all kinds of materials which suggested the site was being used for things it shouldn’t have been.

"There were needles, drugs packages, vermin, asbestos, litter.

"It was only a matter of time before someone was found abused or raped in there.

"The council should have been made to take it down. They sold it so they wouldn’t have to take it down.”

The ex-public toilets as they were, above, and the construction work to build the homes, below

Mr Greaney denied claims that construction of the homes was bringing “severe disruption" and causing tailbacks” although he admitted “slight disruption” because he said Bourne Hall had not allowed Cannonside to rent some of its parking bays to store materials.

A spokesman for Epsom Council said: "A request was received last August for the use of a minimum of four car parking spaces in Bourne Hall car park as a building site compound for a 15 month period starting September 2014.

"However, this was not permitted as it was deemed too disruptive for car park users."

Addressing concerns about a lack of parking for the new homes, Mr Greaney said any potential buyers would factor this into their decision to buy and many people did not have cars.

"People ought to be aware the Government is saying we need to build a house every six minutes," he said.

The toilets were first auctioned off by cash-strapped Epsom council in 2012 for £68,000 to the outrage of residents.

It said the closure of the toilets, along with those in Stoneleigh Broadway and the Upper High Street car park, would save £21,000 a year.

They were then sold on by the buyer for an undisclosed amount but said to have been more than £80,000.

Residents protested against the sale of the toilets and two others back in May 2012.

Would you buy one of the houses? Email letters@epsomguardian.co.uk and let us know.