A football club president is embroiled in a court dispute with his neighbour over a 24ft garden structure that she describes as an eyesore and wants demolished.
Justin Salmon, president and senior secretary of non-league Sutton Common Rovers, built the structure at the bottom of his garden in Coulsdon, south London, in 2018.
The building, which he described as a “man cave” or “den”, included a television, bar, plastered walls, carpeted floors, furniture and an electric doorbell.
His neighbour, Andrianna Neophytou, has taken legal action against Salmon and his wife, Karen, arguing that changes made to the structure have not gone far enough to comply with the terms of their lease.
The dispute is being heard at Mayor’s and City County Court in London, where the judge has been asked to order the couple to demolish the structures.
Dispute Began After Pergola and Shed Were Expanded
The court was told that Salmon initially approached Neophytou in 2017 to seek permission to build a pergola at the bottom of his garden. She agreed to the proposal.
After completing the pergola, Salmon added a shed beside it and gradually developed the structures into a roofed garden room.
The resulting building featured UPVC windows and doors, plastered walls, carpeting and furniture, alongside signs bearing the names “Man Cave” and “The Den”.
The additional space was used by Salmon and his wife during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Neophytou, who owns the freehold of the Salmons’ ground-floor maisonette and lives above them, subsequently challenged the development.
Earlier Tribunal Found the Structures Breached the Lease
The disagreement escalated in 2020, when the neighbours fell out and Neophytou began proceedings before a First-tier Tribunal.
The tribunal ruled that the garden structures breached the couple’s lease and exceeded the permission originally granted for a pergola and a basic shed.
Following that decision, Salmon said he would make alterations to bring the structures into compliance with the agreement.
However, Neophytou maintains that the work did not resolve the problem. She alleges that the building was effectively converted into an open-sided outdoor bar while retaining the same footprint.
She also pointed to a change in signage, with the original “Man Cave” sign replaced by one reading “Shed for Domestic Purposes”.
Neighbour Tells Court the Structure Remains an Eyesore
Giving evidence at the latest hearing, Neophytou described her objection to the development and its effect on her enjoyment of her property.
She told Judge Nicholas Parfitt that looking out of her windows had become unpleasant because of the large structure and additional marquees in the garden.
Neophytou argued that the remaining development still resembled one long building rather than the pergola and shed she had originally approved.
Her legal team is seeking an order requiring the Salmons to demolish the structures entirely.
The lawyers involved expect the dispute to generate legal costs exceeding £100,000.
Legal Teams Disagree Over Whether the Structures Comply
Representing Neophytou, barrister Dilan Deeljur argued that the lease prohibits additional buildings on the land without written permission, apart from a shed intended for domestic purposes.
He said his client had agreed to a basic, open wooden pergola in 2017 but had not authorised an enclosed garden room with a solid roof or an extended structure supported by fencing.
Deeljur argued that the Salmons had made only piecemeal changes instead of removing the features that had led to the original dispute.
The Salmons deny breaching their lease and maintain that the remaining structures amount to a conventional garden shed and pergola.
Their barrister, James Culverwell, told the court that the building containing the bar was now a pergola-type structure that fell within the terms of the agreement.
Regarding the adjoining shed, he argued that the lease did not provide a specific legal definition of the term beyond requiring it to serve domestic purposes.
Culverwell said the shed was used for storing items such as garden tools, consistent with the ordinary meaning of the word.
Justin Salmon Insists Changes Have Brought Garden Into Compliance
Salmon also gave evidence, telling the court that the “Man Cave” sign had been a birthday present.
He maintained that he had scaled back the garden development and that the remaining structures now complied with the lease and the original agreement.
He told the judge that the building was now a shed for domestic purposes and that the pergola had been restored to the form agreed with Neophytou.
The couple’s position is that the alterations have addressed the concerns raised in the earlier tribunal proceedings.
Separate Disagreement Over Locked Porch
The neighbours are also involved in a separate dispute concerning a locked porch built by Neophytou over steps leading to her door.
The Salmons claim they have a right to access the steps, adding another issue to the ongoing disagreement between the parties.
Judge Parfitt reserved his ruling on the garden structures case until a later date.
Football Club President’s Background
Salmon serves as president and senior secretary of Sutton Common Rovers, a non-league football club founded by his father, Alan Salmon, in 1978.
He previously played for and coached the club.
The court proceedings will determine whether the remaining garden structures must be demolished or whether the alterations made by Salmon satisfy the requirements of the lease.
