The mechanic at the centre of a long-running planning dispute will go to the high court this week in the latest phase of his 13-year fight to keep his garage open.

Richard Hough, who runs Autoclutch in Station Road, South Norwood, will bid to make legal history by overturning 55-year-old case law at the Court of Appeal.

A judge at Croydon County Court ruled in July that landowner Greathall Ltd could bulldoze his garage to build 11 flats and two shops on the site, next to Norwood Junction station.

Mr Hough will be represented free of charge by a QC, Manjit Singh Gill, at the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

To win, he will need to overturn a precedent set by a ruling set by House of Lords on its decision in Betty’s Cafes Ltd v Phillips Furnishing Stores Ltd.

Mr Hough said: "Not many people even get to this stage and the fact that I have a QC and barrister representing me is massive."

He added: "I can tell you now, if I lose this won't be the end of it."

Mr Hough, who began helping out at Autoclutch as a boy before landing a job and eventually taking over its running in 1991.

Greathall bought the land on which the garage sits from Railtrack for £112,000 in 2001. It first unveiled proposals for a housing development in 2003 but failed to secure planning permission until 2011.

Follow Autoclutch on Facebook for updates on the court battle.