Jason:
Removing those 2 bolts is what i figured out to do and actually did, which gave an extra 20mm or so of room.
There is a 3rd bolt holding the top pipe in place further to the right which would probably help as well.
I now know what those pipes do thanks to Jason.

This is a pic of the wonderful little device i used to get those nuts off, a rachet ring spanner. I don't have big hands fortunately so with lots of wiggling and using the braille method i got them off. Its easier the second time round putting them back on.

I had major problems getting the top nut off the front struts as well so in the end i removed the whole strut as one piece and drilled out the nut.

Its taken me the whole weekend to do the suspension swap which includes a few trips to a tool shop and a BBQ at the Brother-in-laws. An alignment will be done during the week sometime.

Much thanks to all for the advice and info.