A POPULAR riding school has been given an extra six months to find a new home.

Longwood Equestrian Centre, which is being forced to go to make way for the controversial development of 725 homes, shops and primary school on land at Dry Street, Basildon, has managed to secure a lease extension.

The facility, which offers lessons and runs competitions and events, was meant to shut this month, so work to bulldoze it could begin.

As part of a section 106 agreement, the Homes and Communities Agency, which owns the land, was ordered to pay Basildon Council £500,000 for a new centre in the borough – but a deal has still not been struck.

The HCA and Redrow Homes, which has signed contracts to build the development, are now letting the centre stay on until July, so students working towards qualifications in equine studies do not face too much disruption.

Basildon Council insists it is working closely with Ian Lewington, who runs Longwood, to find a new site and is close to sealing a deal.

Mr Lewington said: “Through the hard work of both the HCA and Basildon Council we are now moving positively towards having a brand new facility within the borough.

“I am pleased to have been offered by the HCA and Redrow Homes the ability to continue at Longwood Equestrian Centre for another six months, which should, hopefully, coincide with the new venue becoming available.”

Keith Parrett, regional chief executive at Redrow, said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with the HCA on this and for part of the Longwood Equestrian Centre to stay until the summer.

“We felt it was really important the students were able to finish their studies and are glad to have been able to help.”

Horse riders who kept their animals in stables at Longwood were forced to remove them earlier this month, with many securing alternative temporary accommodation elsewhere in Essex thanks to the riding community joining forces.