Just scan reading this and very confused...

If you want to remove the drivers side shocker and spring but leave the hub in place that is fine.

You do not need to compress the spring and strut before removing.

You will need a multi spline to remove the bolt at the bottom of the strut that goes through the hub, then a tool is handy to open the hub up. As mentiond already I have a ground down 8mm Allen key that works perfectly.

With the bolt removed and hub open a little you need a big heavy bar to press down on the bottom arm, it's tight due to the driveshaft but enough to kick to one side and angle the shocker out of place.

Remove the three 13mm bolts from the strut top and away you go.

 

Hutch, both the Ibiza guide and the KYB video show the spring being compressed before putting it back on the car. I assumed compressing the spring pulls the damper down, which shortens the length of the strut which helps get it into the restricted space. Thinking about it now though, I'm not sure the damper would really move down without the weight of the body pushing it down?

You can push a damper in by hand when the spring is compressed.