The council's legal team is investigating an attempt to remove a Tory headquarters building from a list of historic Croydon sites.

Croydon North Conservative Association is seeking planning permission to have its headquarters in Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, demolished and replaced by flats.

The building is included in a list of historic sites in Croydon, which meant extra consideration would have been given to the planning application.

Last week the site was included in a list of buildings that should be removed from the list. The council move was halted after concerns were raised about a potential conflict of interest.

In October the Croydon Guardian reported how Labour councillors accused Conservatives of being "hypocrites", claiming they would never sanction similar plans in the south of the borough.

Eric Kings, treasurer for the Croydon North Conservative Association, said: "We have no objection to it remaining on the list. We don't intend to develop the site ourselves, it will be up to the developers. We don't mind whether the building stays or not.

"Our main concern is that we must have ground floor offices that are suitable for the elderly and disabled. Converting that building to the ground floor is not for us."

Mr Kings said the planning application currently submitted was intended to "test the water" and that restoring the building themselves would be beyond their financial means.

He added: "I think it is sad if an old building is destroyed but if it can't be restored then something more suitable to modern times should be erected.

"This building has no historic interest. The local list is one that has fallen into disuse and is long overdue for review."

Councillor Gerry Ryan, deputy leader of the Labour group and shadow cabinet member for streets and environmental services, said: "In all my years on the council I have never seen what appears to be such a blatant attempt to bulldoze through such a controversial and shoddy scheme.

"These alleged actions amount to a gross abuse of power, which would seem to show that outside the bubble that David Cameron seems to inhabit, Tories cannot be trusted to operate in the interests of the people of Croydon. They are far more interested in is making money for their own political party and have scant regard for Croydon's heritage and culture."

Councillor Paul Scott, shadow cabinet member for planning, said: "It seems highly suspicious to me that just two months after they submitted a planning application that they have now decided themselves to take it off the list."

Labour councillors are now demanding an investigation into how the building was recommended for removal from the list.

The council said a decision is due to be made in February.