Two developers have been prosecuted after failing to meet their legal obligations on building projects, as Croydon Council continues its drive to safeguard the borough’s character and green spaces.
In line with a commitment from Executive Mayor Jason Perry to ensure development is both sustainable and respectful of Croydon’s heritage, the council’s planning enforcement team has successfully brought two separate cases to court.
At Grace Heights on Woodcote Valley Road in Purley, a developer was granted permission to build a block of flats but failed to carry out approved landscaping and bin store works required under the planning conditions. Despite repeated reminders from the council, the requirements were not met.
Following the issuing of a Breach of Condition notice – which was also ignored – the council pursued prosecution. The developer, Duyile Adegbuyi of Dunamis Construction, did not attend the hearing at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and was convicted in his absence. He was fined £50,000, ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge, and instructed to cover the council’s legal costs of £12,751.41. All payments must be made within 28 days.
In a second case, legal action was taken after two protected trees (pictured) – a Horse Chestnut rated as category A and an Ash rated as category B – were illegally damaged at a site in Woodfield Hill, Coulsdon. The damage left the trees unsafe and they had to be removed.
Mark McElduff, director of Mac Group Limited, was initially found guilty in January 2025 and subsequently appealed. Following a two-day hearing at Croydon Crown Court in January, the judge upheld the original conviction, ruling that McElduff had acted negligently. He was ordered to pay a £5,000 fine, £2,500 in costs, and a £500 victim surcharge.
Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry said: ‘Residents rightly expect developers to respect our borough’s character and natural environment and to follow the rules that are there to protect them. This is part of my zero-tolerance approach to those who flout such rules.
‘These cases show that we will not hesitate to take strong, decisive action against developers who ignore planning conditions and fail to respect our borough’s character and natural environment. We will continue to stand up for our communities and preserve what makes Croydon such a special place to live.’
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