COMPANIES worried their future is under threat by redevelopment plans for their business centre should have nothing to fear, the developers behind the scheme are claiming.
But Roy Ledgister, business development manager for Caridon Property Services, has admitted the company has not done a good job in letting firms involved know what is going on.
Caridon has permitted development approval for turning the first and second floors of the Croydon House business centre in Peall Road, Thornton Heath from business office premises to 34 studio flats.
Mr Ledgister said it expects to complete the purchase of the building from receivers, Investec Bank, within a few days.
But companies using the offices and those occupying the ground floor of the building have said this week they have been kept in the dark about Caridon's plans.
Vijay Latchman, who runs IT firm Mirage Tek Global Resources Ltd from the second floor, said the company operates on a licence lease which meant they could be told to get out very quickly.
Mr Latchman said: "We were told by the management here recently that we would have to leave within four or five weeks and we have just had somebody turn up and ask if he could measure up the premises."
He added there had been no direct contact with Caridon to discuss what was going on and the company's future.
Mr Latchman said: "You need businesses in an area like this to help keep the local economy going.
"Whether the development goes through or not, I don't want to stay here. No-one has talked to us and my loyalty to the centre has counted for nothing."
While not directly affected by Caridon's plans Ian Ashby, who runs a recording studio on the ground floor, is also considering a move.
He said there was bound to be disruption during building work and it would be impossible for him to make music if he had to cope with noise and the problem dust getting into his sensitive recording equipment.
Mr Ashby said: "The first time we knew something was happening was when a notice appeared on a lamppost outside the building. I have heard nothing from the developers."
He, like Stacey Williams, who runs the Aelfa Academy of Dramatic Arts with her sister Emma, is also concerned about what future plans Caridon might have for the ground floor.
Ms Williams said students had to pay for courses in advance and she worried that some would be put off if they thought the future of the academy was in doubt.
Mr Ledgister said only five of the 30 units on the first and second floors were occupied and negotiations had already been completed with three of the occupants to move to the ground floor.
The ground floor businesses were not affected, he said, and Caridon would talk to them about keeping any disruption during building works to a minimum.
Mr Ledgister said: "We could have been better at communicating with the businesses and we will make sure we have a lot better communications in the future."
